Chapter 211: Four Illumination Divine Skill Obtained

On February twenty-ninth, the sun hung high in the sky.

A cloud of yellow dust rose from the official road. Dozens of fine horses from the Western Regions broke the spring silence, galloping straight towards Liuxi Town. The small town was already bustling with people coming and going, so this group of riders entering the town entrance didn't attract much attention.

However, as the group entered the town, someone suddenly shouted, "It's Second Master Qian, Qian Yue!"

"Second Master Qian has arrived? Doesn't that mean Gu Mo, the Great Hero of Yunzhou, is here too?"

"Which one is the Great Hero of Yunzhou?"

"The Great Hero of Yunzhou isn't hard to spot, is he? Look... Isn't that heroic young man the Great Hero of Yunzhou?"

Soon after Gu Mo, Qian Yue, and the others entered the market town, the town became agitated. Especially when someone recognized Qian Yue, they quickly deduced that Gu Mo was with him, causing the town to become thoroughly stirred up. People from all sides, as if receiving a signal, began to converge from every direction.

Qian Yue led Gu Mo and Gu Chudong directly to a small courtyard in the very center of the town.

On the way, Qian Yue had already received a letter from the Qian family. Various martial arts masters had gathered, mainly from the Cangyuan Prefecture area, as the Qian family's reputation was only strong enough within Cangyuan Prefecture to invite people to support their cause. Outside of Cangyuan Prefecture, few would take them seriously.

However, fortunately, due to the recent renown of the Great Hero of Yunzhou and the Pure Yang Temple Master, word spread throughout Cangzhou's various prefectures that many people were coming to join the excitement. Still, the Qian family dared not count on those individuals, as whether they were coming to help, or even to join them, remained to be seen.

Qian Yue, Gu Mo, and the others had traveled from Rongcheng, a long distance, which was why they were two days late. They were simply waiting for their arrival before heading to the Lin family to demand justice.

As Gu Mo's group was about to reach the town center, they saw a large contingent of people hurrying towards them. At the forefront was a middle-aged Daoist priest dressed in a Daoist robe.

The Daoist wore a Nine-Beam Daoist crown and a moon-white Daoist robe, its corners swaying gently in the wind. His posture was upright, his steps steady, and three strands of neatly trimmed beard hung from his chin. In his hand, he held a whisk, its white tail glistening softly in the sunlight, making anyone who saw him exclaim, "What an enlightened master!"

"It's Temple Master Song of Pure Yang Temple!"

Qian Yue informed Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, then quickly dismounted and went to greet him.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong also dismounted. Although they had never met Song Danyang, even just hearing his name had given them a favorable impression of him.

Song Danyang had an excellent reputation in Cangzhou. He was the second-ranked master in Cangzhou but rarely engaged in conflict. He earned his reputation primarily by mediating numerous disputes within the martial arts world.

Most remarkably, Pure Yang Temple, as one of the Three Sects and Four Factions, had two grandmasters within its ranks, holding the first and second positions on Cangzhou's Heavenly Ranking. The elder temple master, Ling Xuzi, was even the fifth greatest grandmaster in the Qian Kingdom. Yet, this powerful sect focused solely on teaching Daoism in Shinan Mountain, content with their small plot of land, selling elixirs to make a living. For decades, they never expanded their territory or influence. Even their disciples primarily practiced Daoism, with martial arts being secondary.

A few years prior, to eliminate notorious bandits, the Green Leaf Pavilion seized the opportunity to demand the treasured Tai Xu Divine Armor. Song Danyang, after only a slight hesitation, handed over the precious artifact for the sake of justice and righteousness in the martial arts world.

It's important to know that the Tai Xu Divine Armor was rumored to be the world's top divine weapon. It was not forged from mundane earthly iron but formed six hundred years ago when a meteorite of profound iron from outside this realm fell in the extreme northern barren lands, absorbing a century of earth energy to condense.

This armor possessed extremely strong defense; swords and spears could not pierce it, nor could water or fire harm its wearer. Not only did it provide powerful protection, but it could also absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to augment the wearer's own power, enabling them to exert even greater combat strength. The wearer became impervious to blades and flames and could continuously replenish their internal energy, capable of exhausting enemies to death.

One could say that with the Tai Xu Divine Armor passed down through generations, Pure Yang Temple would always have a top-tier grandmaster at its command.

Yet, Song Danyang gave away such a treasure simply to save ordinary people who were completely unrelated to him. It was truly outlandish.

When Gu Mo first heard Qian Yue speak of it, he didn't grasp the concept, so he didn't think much of it. It wasn't until the past two days, on his journey, that he specifically inquired about Song Danyang descending the mountain, and then he learned of the Tai Xu Divine Armor's true value.

After learning this, Gu Mo could only sigh in admiration, realizing that Song Danyang was a truly deserving great hero, his chivalrous realm having reached a level incomprehensible to ordinary people.

Thus, both Gu Mo and Gu Chudong held a strong liking for this man; no one could dislike a great hero who sacrificed for others and possessed a compassionate heart.

At this point, Qian Yue saluted Song Danyang, who politely returned the greeting. Then, looking at Gu Mo, he inquired, "I presume this is the Great Hero of Yunzhou, Gu Mo, Great Hero Gu?"

"Yes, yes, exactly," Qian Yue eagerly introduced Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, saying, "This is indeed the Great Hero of Yunzhou, Gu Mo, Great Hero Gu. And beside him is his sister, Gu Chudong, Heroine Gu." Immediately after, Qian Yue introduced Song Danyang to Gu Mo and Gu Chudong.

Song Danyang stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble Daoist, Song Danyang, greets Great Hero Gu and Heroine Gu. I have long heard of Great Hero Gu's renown and admired you for a long time. Seeing you today, it truly proves that 'seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.'"

Gu Mo cupped his hands in return, saying, "Temple Master Song, your name echoes like thunder, and it is my great honor to meet you today."

Song Danyang chuckled softly and said, "Great Hero Gu might think I'm speaking mere pleasantries, but that's not the case. Perhaps Great Hero Gu doesn't know, but my master, True Man Ling Xu, and Sect Master Qi of the Canglan Sword Sect are close friends. In their correspondence, Sect Master Qi often mentions you, Great Hero Gu.

Pure Yang Temple practices the path of internal martial arts, and my master is also a grandmaster of internal martial arts of his generation. My master often inquires about the details of your major battles since your emergence, frequently marveling at the exquisite subtlety of your internal energy's application. Afterwards, my master often uses your astonishing performances in those battles to instruct us disciples.

To be frank, Great Hero Gu, I know the intricate details of several of your feats like the back of my hand: confronting ten masters at Fengming Crossing, slaying Ju Jiuyin in Falling Petal Valley, eliminating the changgui in Cangshan Town, executing Ren Tianqi while resisting heavenly thunder, and killing the Qilin in Qingzhou City.

Many years ago, my master told me that the path of internal martial arts is different from other martial paths. This path emphasizes not only accumulation but also application. One cannot be called a grandmaster merely for profound cultivation; one also needs meticulous control over internal energy, being able to release and retract it at will. Only when both are combined can one truly be considered accomplished in internal martial arts.

And you, Great Hero Gu, your meticulous application of internal energy is admired by everyone in Pure Yang Temple, even my master himself!"

Listening to Song Danyang's words, Gu Mo suddenly realized that perhaps the rumors in the martial arts world were true: Song Danyang's descent from the mountain to get involved in the Qian-Lin family affair might indeed have been specifically for him.

"Temple Master Song, you flatter me," Gu Mo said. "In the path of internal martial arts, I am merely a junior learner. You and True Man Ling Xu are the true seniors of this path; I still have much to learn from you."

"No, no, no," Song Danyang shook his head. "The path of martial arts is not judged by age. Compared to Great Hero Gu, who is superior and who is inferior between my master and you, this humble Daoist cannot say. However, compared to you, I am far inferior. For example, at Fengming Crossing, Great Hero Gu, you faced ten masters with two types of internal energy, yin and yang, while also deploying a third type of true qi to defeat your enemies. The harmonious blending and mutual complementarity of three internal energies—even now, I can't possibly fathom it. Several types of true qi..."

Once the application of internal energy was mentioned, Song Danyang began to speak non-stop.

Gu Mo also completely believed Song Danyang's words. This man was truly not speaking pleasantries; he genuinely knew the details of Gu Mo's major battles like the back of his hand. In fact, many details were ones Gu Mo himself hadn't even noticed, yet Song Danyang understood them thoroughly and continuously brought them up for discussion with Gu Mo.

The two walked and talked, and soon arrived at the large courtyard. There, they continued their discussion as if no one else were present.

Song Danyang truly lived up to his reputation as an internal energy grandmaster. Although he constantly adopted a posture of seeking Gu Mo's guidance, during their discussions, he also proposed ideas that made Gu Mo's eyes light up. The more they talked, the more energetic they became.

However, neither of them forgot the main purpose. Although they both wished to talk through the night, they stopped punctually after discussing for only two *kezhen* (about 30 minutes).

This also allowed everyone from the Qian family to breathe a sigh of relief, fearing that the two grandmasters would become so engrossed in their discussion that they would forget themselves, and no one dared to disturb them.

Qian Yue and several Qian family elders invited people from all factions to sit down for a meal. By the beginning of *weishi* (1 PM-3 PM), hundreds of people, a vast and impressive procession, set off directly for Tang'an County town. By the beginning of *shenshi* (3 PM-5 PM), they arrived outside the Lin family estate.

The Lin family estate was very grand. Its main gate stood on elevated ground facing the official road, with a wide stone path leading directly to the entrance. On either side, verdant cypresses formed a canopy, their branches interlacing, filtering the sunlight into dappled patterns.

At the estate's entrance, stone steps rose in layers, at least several hundred of them, their edges carved with lifelike auspicious beast patterns. Ascending the steps, a magnificent archway soared high, with four pillars and three gates, adorned with upturned eaves and intricate dougong brackets, presenting an extraordinary aura. Above the archway, a large gilded plaque hung prominently, bearing the two characters "Lin Residence" (林府) in vigorous strokes, gleaming under the sunlight.

When the hundreds of martial artists, led by the Qian family and carrying Qian Duoduo's corpse, majestically arrived before the Lin family estate, dozens of Lin family disciples streamed out from within. Dressed in moon-white activewear, their sleeves embroidered with ink-bamboo patterns, sharp swords glinted at their waists.

Their steps were uniform as they quickly surged forth, emanating an extraordinary aura.

Along both sides of the main road, ancient trees had dense foliage, their shadows swaying gently in the wind. In an instant, the Lin family disciples reached the archway, swiftly forming a line to firmly block the path ahead.

Witnessing this scene, Qian Yue and the other high-ranking members of the Qian family all had grim expressions.

Initially, they had considered the possibility of being turned away when coming to the Lin family to demand justice. However, once Gu Mo and Song Danyang made an appearance, they no longer worried, as no matter how arrogant the Lin family was, they wouldn't dare refuse entry to the Great Hero of Yunzhou and the Pure Yang Temple Master.

But from the current situation, it seemed the other side truly intended to bar them from entering.

At that moment, they all recalled the recent rumor that the Lin family's Old Matron, Lin Qiniang, had emerged from seclusion. This Old Matron Lin was famously iron-blooded and domineering in the Cangzhou martial arts world. Though a woman, in her youth, she was ranked second on Cangzhou's Heavenly Ranking, dominating the heroes of Cangzhou to the point where they couldn't raise their heads. She held extremely high prestige and seniority; even Pure Yang Temple Master Song Danyang was considered a junior before her.

As for Gu Mo, the Great Hero of Yunzhou, his seniority was hard to classify since he wasn't from Cangzhou. But that was precisely the problem: if Old Matron Lin chose to act unreasonably and cause trouble, even the Great Hero of Yunzhou would be helpless.

Qian Yue and the others clearly understood that Gu Mo's mere presence was an enormous favor to the Qian family. They couldn't possibly hope that Gu Mo would genuinely fight the Lin family on their behalf.

Just as at the very beginning, Qian Yue didn't ask Gu Mo to "stand on their platform" (support them publicly); he only knelt in gratitude when Gu Mo expressed his intention to come.

Gu Mo was different from the others. Most of the martial arts masters present owed the Qian family favors, but Gu Mo owed them nothing.

Therefore, seeing the Lin family's imposing posture, the Qian family members' hearts grew heavy. If Old Matron Lin intended to fully protect Lin Xiangdong, then today's affair would become extremely troublesome.

Immediately, Qian Yue stepped forward, ready to demand answers.

Just then, the Lin family disciples blocking the road parted to create a path, and an old woman leaning on a walking stick slowly emerged from behind them. It was none other than the Lin family's Old Matron Lin, ranked third on Cangzhou's Heavenly Ranking.

Old Matron Lin wore a dark brocade robe and walked slowly, supported by two maids, exuding an extraordinary aura. Her silver hair was neatly styled into a high bun. The hand gripping the walking stick, though veined, had clearly defined knuckles and strong fingers. The stick itself was carved with coiling snakes, and rubies gleamed in the dragons' eyes.

Her steps were steady, each one seemingly treading on the hearts of the onlookers. A profound silence enveloped the area, broken only by the "thump-thump" of her walking stick striking the stone path, echoing repeatedly before the estate. This quiet sound astonishingly caused the morale of many martial artists present, including the Qian family, to significantly diminish, with some even unconsciously retreating a step.

"On behalf of the Lin family, this old woman respectfully welcomes all fellow martial artists!" Old Matron Lin said, clasping her hands in greeting while holding her walking stick.

"Greetings, Old Matron!" "May Old Matron be well!" "..."

For a moment, numerous martial arts masters returned her greeting.

Old Matron Lin slowly descended and walked up to Qian Yue, saying, "Second Master Qian, the matter of your family master's death is our Lin family's fault. Our Lin family admits this; we will absolutely not renege on our responsibility."

Hearing Old Matron Lin publicly acknowledge the matter in front of so many martial artists, Qian Yue quietly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Old Matron Lin was a sensible person, and this matter might not escalate to a full-blown conflict.

Immediately after, Old Matron Lin cupped her hands towards Gu Mo and Song Danyang, saying, "Great Hero Gu, Temple Master Song, and all fellow martial artists. This old woman had long retired from worldly affairs, but upon hearing that a junior in our family committed a wrong, I rushed here immediately to handle it. You have traveled far; please, first accompany this old woman into my humble abode for a drink. I will surely give the Qian family and the Cangzhou martial arts world a proper explanation!"

Immediately, everyone followed Old Matron Lin into the Lin family estate.

The Lin family was clearly well-prepared. In the main courtyard, numerous tables and chairs had been arranged to host martial artists from all walks of life. Naturally, the courtyard was for ordinary martial artists, while Gu Mo, Song Danyang, and the other prominent martial arts masters were seated at the distinguished guest tables at the very front.

Once everyone was seated, Lin Chuan, the Lin family's patriarch, and many other high-ranking Lin family members also came out to greet them before taking their seats.

Qian Duoduo's coffin was placed in the open space at the very front.

Once everything had settled, Old Matron Lin gave a cold shout, "Bring him up!"

A short while later, under the gaze of everyone present, Lin Xiangdong, the Lin family's eldest young master, was brought forward, bound securely.

"Kneel!"

Old Matron Lin barked, and Lin Xiangdong's body immediately went limp, collapsing to his knees.

Old Matron Lin said gravely, "Today, in the presence of Temple Master Song, Great Hero Gu, Second Master Qian, and all fellow martial artists here, you will truthfully recount everything you have done, without the slightest concealment!"

Lin Xiangdong slowly raised his head, his face ashen. He said in a low voice, "I was blinded by greed. Seeing the Qian family's Datong Bank flourishing and making a fortune daily, I developed covetousness. I wanted to abuse my power, relying on my status to forcibly buy shares in Datong Bank, but Qian Duoduo refused me.

To force him into submission, I conceived an evil plan. Through a friend's introduction, I met the great bandit, Scholar Ye Xiao, known as the Heavenly Secret. I hired him to repeatedly rob Datong Bank's silver carriages, causing the Qian family to face a shortage of funds, so I could then purchase Datong Bank."

Qian Yue said gravely, "Young Master Lin, we are aware of these matters you speak of. However, your Lin family is powerful, and my Qian family was helpless, forced to endure in silence. We were indeed driven to desperation by you. But why did you go to such lengths, even to the point of utterly destroying us?"

"I didn't kill Qian Duoduo!" Lin Xiangdong exclaimed. "I never intended to kill him. Second Master Qian, think carefully: if I truly wanted to kill him, why would I do such a thing in broad daylight?

That day, I arranged to meet Qian Duoduo, intending to negotiate the matter of buying shares in Datong Bank. But the talks broke down, and Qian Duoduo then mocked me. We came to blows, but I had no intention of killing him.

It was Ye Xiao at that time. He disguised himself as one of my guards and stayed by my side. I had no idea my guard had been replaced. I also don't know why Ye Xiao killed Qian Duoduo. I swear to Heaven, I truly never thought of killing Qian Duoduo; that was truly Ye Xiao's doing. I never asked him to kill Qian Duoduo!"

Qian Yue said coldly, "This is nothing but your sophistry. At that time, under the eyes of dozens of people, your guard killed my Qian family master. And with one sentence, you're pushing the blame onto a Ye Xiao whom you can't even produce to prove your claim?"

Lin Xiangdong remained silent.

At this moment, Old Matron Lin stood up and said, "Second Master Qian, all fellow martial artists. After I emerged from seclusion, I investigated this matter. It is indeed as Lin Xiangdong claimed: Ye Xiao, disguised as his guard, killed the Qian family master."

Qian Yue's expression was grim. He said, "Old Matron, are you trying to exonerate Lin Xiangdong?"

Old Matron Lin shook her head. "There is no exoneration. Although he did not kill the Qian family master, it is an established fact that he colluded with evil cultists and robbed the Qian family's silver carriages. His unscrupulous actions are a betrayal of the righteous path of martial arts. Today, in front of all of you, I will execute this son. Afterwards, I will compensate the Qian family for all losses and provide restitution.

Furthermore, Lin Chuan, the head of the Lin family, failed in his parental duty. Effective immediately, he is removed from his position as family head and must return to the Lin family ancestral hall to contemplate his mistakes, not to emerge without my order."

With that, Old Matron Lin raised her snake-head walking stick and swung it towards Lin Xiangdong's head.

Just then, Lin Xiangdong hastily shouted, "I can atone for my crimes by rendering meritorious service!"

The snake-head walking stick stopped an inch from Lin Xiangdong's head. Old Matron Lin barked, "How will you atone by rendering meritorious service?"

Lin Xiangdong quickly said, "I can find Ye Xiao, the true culprit who killed Qian Duoduo." Lin Xiangdong swallowed, looked at Qian Yue, his forehead drenched in cold sweat, and said, "Second Master Qian, I made a mistake, and I accept my punishment. But Ye Xiao is the real murderer, right? You definitely want to kill Ye Xiao to avenge Qian Duoduo, don't you?

I... I... can provide clues about Ye Xiao, guaranteeing that you can catch him, truly. Ye Xiao, as you know, even the Six Doors cannot find him... Without my clues, you definitely won't be able to find him or exact revenge. I'll help you get your revenge... I only ask to atone for my crimes by rendering meritorious service and to spare my life, how about it?"

Qian Yue frowned and looked towards Gu Mo and Song Danyang.

Gu Mo said, "Great Hero Qian, this is a matter for your Qian family. I cannot make the decision."

Song Danyang also said, "Great Hero Gu is absolutely right. This matter must be decided by your Qian family themselves."

Immediately, Qian Yue consulted with several Qian family elders.

A short while later, Qian Yue walked over and said, "If the information you provide is true and genuinely leads us to Ye Xiao, we can agree to your proposal. However, the information must be accurate."

"It will certainly be true," Lin Xiangdong said, sighing in relief.

"You may escape the death penalty, but you won't escape punishment!" At this point, Old Matron Lin spoke, "Your life may be spared, but you must also give the righteous martial arts world an explanation!"

With that, Old Matron Lin swung her snake-head walking stick towards Lin Xiangdong's knees. In the blink of an eye, she struck him twice consecutively. Two "crack" sounds were heard, and Lin Xiangdong's legs broke just like that.

Lin Xiangdong lay on the ground, wailing uncontrollably and screaming heartbreakingly.

The gazes of many martial artists towards Old Matron Lin changed. Many inwardly marveled that this Old Matron truly showed no favoritism!

Gu Mo also felt a sense of admiration, now understanding why Old Matron Lin, despite being a woman, could lead the Lin family to its current standing, remaining strong for decades.

This decisiveness was truly beyond what ordinary people could achieve.

At present, this incident had put the Lin family's reputation on the line. If Old Matron Lin had shown any favoritism or protection, the Lin family's standing would have collapsed overnight.

This incident could very well mark the beginning of their decline.

Ordinary people navigate the martial arts world relying on martial arts, but it's different for a large power. Simply relying on force won't work; they also need reputation. This invisible and intangible thing is incredibly important, so much so that it can genuinely determine the rise and fall of a power.

If Old Matron Lin died, the Lin family might not suffer too much. But if the Lin family's reputation died, then the Lin family would certainly plummet and never recover.

Old Matron Lin appeared ruthless, but she was, in fact, decisive.

She crippled Lin Xiangdong, removed Lin Chuan, and compensated the Qian family for all their losses.

Given the Lin family's stature, one of the seven great martial arts families, to go to such lengths when facing a mere Qian family, meant that once the news spread, the negative impact caused by Lin Xiangdong could essentially be eliminated. Furthermore, if marketed well, it might even be said in the martial arts world that the Lin family upheld righteousness and did not bully others, potentially earning them a wave of good reputation.

At this moment, Lin Xiangdong was wailing on the ground, almost unconscious from the pain. Old Matron Lin said gravely, "If you're going to die, don't die now. First, reveal Ye Xiao's whereabouts."

Immediately, Old Matron Lin bent down to listen to Lin Xiangdong speaking through gritted teeth, stammering. No one could hear what Lin Xiangdong was saying, and as soon as he finished, he immediately fell unconscious.

Gu Mo chuckled softly.

An ordinary person might have simply thought it was too noisy, or Lin Xiangdong's voice was too faint to hear clearly, but Gu Mo heard distinctly: Lin Xiangdong hadn't said a word.

Yet Old Matron Lin appeared to have heard him.

This indicated that the scene was a pre-arranged act. Lin Xiangdong must have already informed Old Matron Lin of Ye Xiao's whereabouts in exchange for his life, and Old Matron Lin was cooperating with the performance today.

However, Gu Mo saw through it but didn't expose it.

To be precise, many people present could actually guess that the Lin family had likely planned long ago to exchange Ye Xiao's whereabouts for Lin Xiangdong's life. It was simply that while some things were an open secret among everyone, the necessary performance still had to take place.

Gu Mo didn't believe that the Qian family's old elders and Qian Yue couldn't see through it either; they were merely cooperating with the act.

For the Qian family, the Lin family's explanation and amends were more than sufficient. They were willing to fully compensate, remove a family head, cripple Lin Xiangdong, and even help capture the real culprit, all just in exchange for Lin Xiangdong's life.

Given the Qian family's status, the Lin family's willingness to go to such lengths left the Qian family truly speechless.

Old Matron Lin did not publicly reveal Ye Xiao's whereabouts. Instead, she invited Gu Mo, Gu Chudong, Song Danyang, and the Qian family members to a side hall.

Old Matron Lin said, "That scoundrel Lin Xiangdong wasn't entirely beyond redemption in his stupidity. When he collaborated with Ye Xiao, he was also wary of this person. During their interactions, he secretly planted a unique hidden weapon technique of our Lin family on Ye Xiao.

He covertly tracked Ye Xiao's hidden identity. That Ye Xiao was operating a small medical clinic as a doctor in Xiaojia Town, Tongjiang County. Ye Xiao's disguise techniques were unparalleled in the martial arts world, and he had maintained that hidden identity for several years, which was why he had never been apprehended."

Qian Yue asked, "Does the Lin family still have someone watching him?"

Old Matron Lin nodded. "Lin Xiangdong has always had someone watching him. We can now confirm that Ye Xiao hasn't noticed and is still hiding in that small town." At this point, Old Matron Lin added, "Second Master Qian, rest assured. This matter is our Lin family's fault towards your Qian family. To kill this Ye Xiao, our Lin family will certainly lend our full assistance. This old woman will personally go on this trip, with our Lin family leading the charge, ensuring no further casualties for the Qian family!"

Qian Yue was completely convinced. He cupped his hands and said, "Old Matron, you are truly righteous and understanding; Qian Yue admires you!"

Old Matron Lin then looked towards Gu Mo and Song Danyang, cupping her hands, and said, "Great Hero Gu, Temple Master Song, do you have any suggestions?"

Song Danyang chuckled softly, "Old Matron, your profound understanding of righteousness is known throughout the martial arts world, and your impartiality in handling matters is something this junior admires."

Gu Mo cupped his hands and said, "My purpose in coming to Cangzhou this time is to apprehend Ye Xiao. On this trip, I will accompany you."

Old Matron Lin said, "That would be for the best. With Great Hero Gu taking action, this mission to apprehend and eliminate Ye Xiao for the martial arts world will surely be foolproof."

Song Danyang's eyes lit up. He said, "This humble Daoist will also go, indeed. It's a rare opportunity to witness Great Hero Gu's skills, so this humble Daoist must go."

Gu Mo chuckled softly. "Temple Master Song, are you suggesting I lead the charge against Ye Xiao while you watch from the sidelines?"

"Supporting the rear, supporting the rear!" Song Danyang chuckled.

Gu Mo smiled and didn't say anything further on the topic. After all, for him, it didn't matter who acted; he would always aim to secure the final blow.

Tongjiang County was not far from Tang'an County, with only one county separating them. Traveling by official road would take about two days. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary complications, the group set off lightly that very day.

Old Matron Lin, despite being over seventy, rode a tall horse with lightning speed, no worse than a young person. The Qian family's contingent, the Lin family's contingent, plus some Pure Yang Temple disciples—a total of over a hundred people—galloped swiftly through the night.

Finally, by noon on the third day, they arrived at Xiaojia Town.

Xiaojia Town, Liu's Medical Clinic.

Although there were only two or three medical clinics in the town, Liu's Medical Clinic did not have good business because Dr. Liu's medical skills were not superb; he couldn't cure even slightly more serious illnesses.

It was only because he personally gathered herbs in the mountains for a long time, resulting in relatively lower costs, that his medicine prices were somewhat cheaper, allowing him to barely attract some poor people to buy medicine and thus make a meager living.

At noon that day, Dr. Liu's clinic was as quiet as usual. He even dozed off, leaning directly on the counter.

Until a certain moment, two figures appeared at the door. Dr. Liu immediately became alert, straightening his back to look. A young man accompanied a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl. Both had fair skin and delicate features, and their demeanor was unusual, not looking like people from this small town.

The two were strangely dressed. The young man had a black blindfold over his eyes, as if he were blind. The reason for 'as if' was that he moved freely, not appearing to be truly sightless.

The young girl, on the other hand, carried a large book box on her back, nearly as tall as herself. Already small and slender, she looked quite pathetic.

"Who's here to see a doctor?" Dr. Liu asked.

The young man said, "Not to see a doctor, but to find someone."

Dr. Liu asked, "Who are you looking for?"

The young man said, "The great bandit, Scholar Ye Xiao, known as the Heavenly Secret."

The smile vanished from Dr. Liu's face, and his pupils contracted slightly. He said, "I heard that Gu Mo, the Great Hero of Yunzhou, has come to Cangzhou."

"That would be me," Gu Mo said.

Dr. Liu smiled faintly and said, "I don't understand. I've never even been to Yunzhou, so I shouldn't have offended you in any way. Why would you travel thousands of miles just to kill me?"

"I am a bounty hunter," Gu Mo said. "Do I need a reason to pursue and kill a wanted criminal?"

Ye Xiao paused slightly, then said, "Ah, I had forgotten about that."

Gu Mo asked, "Why did you kill Qian Duoduo?"

"Lin Xiangdong ordered it!" Ye Xiao said.

Gu Mo shook his head slightly. "Everyone knows that's impossible. Lin Xiangdong isn't that foolish."

Ye Xiao nodded. "I am a member of the Green Leaf Pavilion. I was simply acting on orders."

"I see. Well then, can you tell me anything about the Green Leaf Pavilion?" Gu Mo asked.

Ye Xiao shook his head slightly. "Great Hero Gu, have you ever heard of a Green Leaf Pavilion member betraying the Green Leaf Pavilion?"

"There are exceptions to everything, aren't there?"

"But I am definitely not an exception."

Before his words even faded, Ye Xiao suddenly drew a soft sword from beneath the counter. Before the blade itself reached, seven chilling sword qi afterimages split off, striking towards the throat from seven directions, like a green snake flicking its tongue.

The soft sword, which had initially hung like three feet of snow-white satin, suddenly tautened like fine steel the instant it was thrust out. Its blade gleamed, seemingly capable of shattering gold and tearing silk. Within twenty paces, an icy chill permeated the air, as if one's lifeblood had been locked by the chilling aura of the Nine Netherworlds. In a blink, it reached within a foot of Gu Mo.

Yet, just as the sword's afterimage was about to touch Gu Mo's clothes, it seemed to strike an invisible wall. With several "hissing" sounds, it instantly dissipated, unable to advance another inch. It turned out that Gu Mo's protective qi autonomously circulated around him, steadily blocking the fierce sword strikes.

At the same instant, Gu Mo's middle finger extended slightly forward, and a fierce Middle Rush Sword Qi shot forth from his fingertip. Like a meteor chasing the moon, it darted straight towards Ye Xiao's glabella. This sword qi carried formidable internal energy; wherever it passed, the air seemed to be sliced by a sharp blade, producing "hissing" sounds.

However, to Gu Mo's surprise, Ye Xiao seemed to know the timing and direction of his finger strike in advance. Even before the sword qi shot out, Ye Xiao had already raised his sword to parry. The moment Gu Mo's sword qi was launched, his sword was perfectly horizontal in front of him, precisely blocking the fatal blow.

"Heavenly Secret Swordplay: Anticipating the Enemy's Move!"

Gu Mo thought to himself, "It's true that Ye Xiao's Heavenly Secret Swordplay has some genuine skill to have gained fame in the martial arts world. It surprisingly bears some resemblance to Dugu Nine Swords' ability to anticipate the enemy's move and strike later, both being able to discern an opponent's move's weaknesses and cleverly respond."

Immediately, Gu Mo circulated the true qi within his body, and his aura surged powerfully around him. In an instant, both his hands moved simultaneously; his index, middle, ring, and pinky fingers all flicked out. In a flash, six streams of sword qi crisscrossed, weaving into a sword array in the air, completely sealing off all escape routes around Ye Xiao. Within this sword array, sword qi howled as it darted, each stream containing immense power. Anyone struck by even one would be either dead or severely injured.

Unexpectedly, Ye Xiao moved like a phantom. His figure suddenly twisted, his footwork strange and unpredictable. He actually found a sliver of an opening within the impenetrable sword array and deftly dodged all the sword qi.

Seeing this, Gu Mo frowned, pondering to himself that Ye Xiao's Heavenly Secret Swordplay seemed even more peculiar than he had imagined.

While Dugu Nine Swords could anticipate an enemy's move, it required the opponent to make the first move before one could find a weakness and strike later. This Heavenly Secret Swordplay, however, could calculate everything even before its wielder made a move, which was truly inconceivable.

As he was pondering, he suddenly heard a loud "boom." Ye Xiao forcefully swung the long sword in his hand, and it instantly exploded in the air, releasing a vast, surging cloud of poisonous mist. This mist was dark green and black, carrying a pungent, foul odor. Wherever it spread, it corroded the surfaces, leaving black marks.

Gu Mo suddenly struck out with a palm. This palm strike carried immense force, sweeping forth like an overwhelming tide towards the spot where Ye Xiao had just stood. However, the palm force hit nothing, only causing the wall to collapse.

Only then did he see that a secret passage had appeared beneath Ye Xiao's feet at some unknown moment. The instant Gu Mo struck out with his palm, Ye Xiao had already dropped into the secret passage and disappeared.

"Brother, there's a secret passage below!" Gu Chudong quickly reminded him.

Gu Mo immediately ran out through the collapsed wall opening. Behind it was a residential alley. He proceeded unhurriedly, turning left and right, finally leaping into a dilapidated old house.

At this moment, Ye Xiao happened to climb out of a dry well. The moment he emerged, he saw Gu Mo standing before him. With a helpless smile, he said, "This morning, I cast a divination for myself, and it was a death omen. It seems there's no escaping."

"You can tell fortunes?" Gu Mo chuckled softly.

"Otherwise, Great Hero Gu, how do you think I evaded those invisible sword qi strikes of yours?" Ye Xiao retorted.

"Is that so?"

Ye Xiao nodded, then his expression suddenly changed: "Flying dagger..."

A chilling sensation arrived without warning, like the first snowflake of the twelfth lunar month landing on one's neck, or like a lover's fingertip gently tracing a vein. He wanted to turn, but found his limbs pinned in place by some invisible force. In the sunlight, he saw his shadow suddenly cut into two halves by the outline of a dagger.

No escape.

The moment those three words exploded in his mind, the dagger was already in his heart.

Ye Xiao couldn't describe the speed of this dagger; it felt as if it had sprouted from a crevice within his own heart. He didn't even get a clear look at the dagger, only feeling a warmth spreading from his chest—the flying dagger was now lodged in his heart, at the third rib.

"Calculated it, yet couldn't evade it..." His voice was as faint as a dying candle flame in the wind.

He suddenly laughed, his laughter startling the crows perched on the eaves.

Gu Mo was genuinely surprised. He could confirm that the moment Ye Xiao said "flying dagger," he had only just conceived the idea of using one.

This Ye Xiao could actually predict his opponent's next move in advance!

"You truly could calculate it?"

"Truly..."

Ye Xiao's body went limp, and he crashed to the ground. As he fell, his eyes naturally closed, doing so quite peacefully.

And at that very instant, a system notification sounded in Gu Mo's mind: "Four-star wanted criminal slain. Acquired four-