Chapter 232: The World's Third Zhang Dao One

Ye Jinglan continued, "Shang Wujiu disappeared three years ago. The last place he was seen was in the capital, before he suddenly vanished without a trace. Both the Six Gates and our Ministry of Justice virtually assumed he had been killed in some conflict. Such occurrences are common; many villains in the martial arts world are never caught by the authorities but die in Jianghu conflicts.

Some time ago, I was ordered to investigate a murder case. The case was straightforward: two rich young masters, vying for affection, got into a brawl on a pleasure boat, and someone accidentally fell into the water and drowned.

The case was simple, but during my investigation, I found traces of a sound wave technique. After careful examination of the scene and reviewing Six Gates' files, I confirmed through multiple verifications that the sound wave technique was indeed the Bloodhand Zitherist Shang Wujiu's unique skill, 'Heartstring Tribulation of No Remorse'.

Consequently, I immediately began an investigation and eventually pinpointed Shang Wujiu's whereabouts. However, before I could delve deeper, I was assigned to Lin Hai Commandery."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "Once you've finished your business here, Brother Ye, I'll accompany you to the capital."

Ye Jinglan cupped his hands and replied, "With your help, Brother Gu, solving the Human-Faced Demonic Beast case is bound to succeed."

Gu Mo smiled and said, "Brother Ye, martial arts rumors aren't always reliable. I'm merely good at fighting; I'm not skilled in investigating cases or hunting down criminals."

Ye Jinglan chuckled softly, "That's precisely the strange part. Every wanted criminal you've targeted, Brother Gu, has never escaped. Take the Grand Steward case, for example. Yesterday, during our review, many colleagues wondered why Mister Dongjing, knowing he couldn't defeat you, didn't staunchly deny his identity when you exposed him. Given his status, even if you had genuinely extracted the Star-Patterned Stone from his body, he could have claimed to be framed."

Gu Mo chuckled, "He didn't dare to gamble. I was holding a knife, radiating killing intent. With a guilty conscience, how could he genuinely relax his mind and allow me to use my methods on him? Secondly, he knew that people in the martial arts world wouldn't care much about his status as a Grand Confucian. If they said they would kill him, they would actually kill him. His confession or denial was irrelevant."

Ye Jinglan nodded and said, "True. But, Brother Gu, weren't you afraid Mister Dongjing might have detected your Star-Patterned Stone, prepared beforehand, and then retaliated?"

"No," Gu Mo replied, "If he retaliated, it would only further prove he was the Grand Steward. I would simply cut him down."

Ye Jinglan: "...You certainly have a point."

Gu Mo chuckled, "Brother Ye, you've been in officialdom for so long, you're almost forgetting the rules of Jianghu."

Ye Jinglan smiled helplessly, then asked, "Oh, by the way, Brother Gu, I heard you were gravely injured in your fight with Mister Dongjing. Have you recovered now?"

Gu Mo nodded and said, "Mostly, yes."

"That's good," Ye Jinglan said. "I heard that during your confrontation with the Grand Steward, Lin Hai Commandery Commander Chen You activated a battle formation. Brother Gu, what was your impression of the battle qi it generated?"

Gu Mo asked, "Haven't you experienced it, Brother Ye?"

Ye Jinglan smiled and said, "I haven't had the opportunity. I've always heard that army battle qi is the bane of martial arts masters, but since I've never been on a battlefield, I naturally haven't witnessed it."

"How should I put it?" Gu Mo pondered. "Battle qi is indeed peculiar, but it doesn't seem as powerful as legend suggests. It's a special qi formed by combining the soldiers' aura and will through a military formation. It places restrictions on martial arts masters, but these are limited. For me, the most direct sensation was that the air felt denser, the range of true qi release was restricted, and movement techniques were suppressed quite a bit. But overall, it's not as exaggerated as the legends claim."

Ye Jinglan nodded slightly. "No wonder when I asked the military officials in court, they all said that battle qi isn't the bane of martial arts masters; the battlefield is. Battle qi likely has high requirements for both the environment and the army, making it difficult to form. Generally, martial artists encountering an army can simply flee, giving the army no chance to gather battle qi. Moreover, military formations and battle qi require more numerous, more elite, and better-coordinated soldiers for optimal effect. But in a city or forest, where military formations can't deploy, how can they restrain masters? However, in a different setting, like an open battlefield with hundreds of thousands of troops, all elites deployed, and countless heavy armored cavalry charging, with both sides' battle qi indiscriminately suppressing, the legends of it suppressing martial arts masters to the point of being unable to release true qi might indeed be true! Since entering officialdom, I've met several high-ranking generals in court. Without exception, they all follow the external martial arts path. Honestly, in a one-on-one fight, I don't think any of those grand generals would be my match. Now that I think about it, their focus is different; they excel on the battlefield. Someone like me would probably only be able to display twenty to thirty percent of my strength on a large-scale battlefield."

Gu Mo asked curiously, "But actually, I have a question: why doesn't the court apply battle qi training methods to the Six Gates? Otherwise, why would the Six Gates always rely on their Fish-Dragon Iron Chains, often unable to deploy formations in time when encountering masters?"

Ye Jinglan chuckled, "Military formations aren't that easy to cultivate. Moreover, Six Gates personnel are constantly on missions; who has time for daily training? Armies are different. As the saying goes, 'Train soldiers for a thousand days to use them for one hour.' Most armies aren't deployed even once in several years. Furthermore, Six Gates' opponents are martial artists, always on the move, mostly individuals or small groups. They're not wiping out entire clans daily, so why would they need to expend so much effort and money on army-style training? Besides, Six Gates requires diverse talents, not millions of people acting as one, like in an army. Of course, the primary factor is cost. Brother Gu, you should know that county soldiers receive virtually no training. Typically, a county has three to four hundred county soldiers, half of whom are civilian-militia local volunteers. Even so, many counties can't afford to support them. A commandery usually has a garrison force of three to four thousand. Those selected for battle qi training are generally one in ten men, about three to four hundred. Five households support one soldier, ten households support one elite soldier. As for soldiers stationed long-term on the frontier, the cost is even greater, and archers, light cavalry, heavy cavalry, and so on, increase the cost exponentially."

At this point, Ye Jinglan sighed deeply and chuckled, "So, Brother Gu, you understand why Six Gates can't train military formations now, right? A nationwide organization like Six Gates, if managed like an army, would directly empty the national treasury."

Gu Mo chuckled, saying, "Indeed, our understanding as martial artists is far from sufficient."

Ye Jinglan smiled, "It's not a matter of understanding; it's about what one focuses on and their differing positions. When I used to roam the martial arts world, I often heard people saying things like, 'So-and-so sect or school has thousands of disciples and tens of thousands of retainers, more than government troops and Six Gates personnel combined, so why would they fear the authorities!'"

Gu Mo chuckled. He had heard many such remarks, just like when he investigated the Cat Demon case with Zhuo Qingfeng in Qingyang Commandery. After exposing the scandals of the Four Directions Sword Sect, the Six Gates quickly purged them.

Later, many martial artists scoffed and mocked the Four Directions Sword Sect, saying that with thousands of disciples and tens of thousands of retainers under its influence, several times more than the Six Gates personnel in Qingyang Commandery, it was still suppressed by the Six Gates!

Many people didn't understand that, in the face of government's coercive power, most martial arts factions were essentially no different from street hooligans, just individuals with stronger martial prowess. When gathered, they were merely a disorganized mob.

Still, the saying holds true: a single martial artist against a single elite soldier, the martial artist wins easily. Ten martial artists against ten elite soldiers might also gain the upper hand. But if it's a hundred or a thousand, then the martial artists would be unilaterally crushed.

As Gu Mo and Ye Jinglan continued to chat, hurried footsteps approached from outside the courtyard. Soon, an orderly arrived at the door, cupping his hands and saying, "Lord Ye, there's a development. Lin Jing is willing to confess, but he has made a request."

"What request?" Ye Jinglan asked.

"He's requesting Yunlu sandalwood incense in his cell," the orderly replied.

"Damn him," Ye Jinglan said, speechless. "This scoundrel is so accustomed to illicit gains and indulgence, isn't he? He's a prisoner, yet he still wants Yunlu sandalwood incense?"

Gu Mo curiously asked, "Brother Ye, what is Yunlu sandalwood incense?"

Ye Jinglan explained, "It's a particularly popular type of sandalwood in Chang'an City. Countless officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants take pride in using it. It's extremely expensive; even a small amount can sell for forty to fifty taels of silver, and it's still in high demand."

"Chang'an is that extravagant?" Gu Mo asked, surprised.

Ye Jinglan chuckled, "It has nothing to do with Chang'an. Where do the wealthy not indulge in extravagance?"

"That's true."

The Seven Absolutes Tower case proceeded very smoothly. Of course, it couldn't have been otherwise, as the matter itself was quite clear.

Lin Jing secretly embezzled military pay and colluded with the Seven Absolutes Tower to illegally trade military equipment.

Under the joint investigation of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice, a large number of officials from the Coastal Defense Camp were dismissed. Additionally, Chen You, the Commander of Lin Hai Commandery, captured many living members of the Seven Absolutes Tower in Yanluo County and sent people to track the fleeing Seven Absolutes Tower soldiers.

Finally, they pinpointed the Seven Absolutes Tower's headquarters in the Tiansha Archipelago.

However, when the Qian Dynasty army invaded the island, they discovered that the rumored descendant of Crown Prince Kangde was merely the Grand Steward's puppet, raised like a pig for symbolic purposes. And the so-called Seven Dark Guards had long been reduced to only the Grand Steward's lineage.

This matter lasted for nearly twenty days, resulting in numerous arrests and executions in Lin Hai Commandery. Many individuals found to be colluding with the Seven Absolutes Tower, including well-known merchants and officials, were implicated.

Finally, personnel from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War escorted many high-ranking Coastal Defense Camp officials back to the capital.

Gu Mo and Gu Chutong, meanwhile, departed with Ye Jinglan and Princess Chengyang, Li Li.

At the city gate of Linhai City, Prefect Pei Yuanzhen saw off the returning contingent to the capital. After greeting the officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War, he rode his horse to the carriage where Gu Mo and Gu Chutong were seated.

Pei Yuanzhen handed Gu Mo a calling card and said, "Great Hero Gu, on your journey to the capital, you might consider visiting my grand-master at the Imperial Preceptor's residence first. This could help you avoid a lot of trouble in the capital."

Gu Chutong took the calling card and said, "Prefect Pei, you seem to have a hidden meaning in your words?"

Pei Yuanzhen slowly explained, "Chang'an City is the center of power for the Qian Dynasty, with numerous complex factions. Since you're traveling there at the invitation of Doctor Ye Jinglan, Great Hero Gu, it's inevitable that some might misunderstand you as having joined a particular faction. However, if you visit my grand-master first upon your arrival in the capital, he will naturally understand the implications and convey certain messages to the outside world. Although there are rumors that my grand-master has taken sides, all informed people in the capital know that he is absolutely neutral. A few days ago, something else happened in the capital, making people even less likely to provoke my grand-master."

Gu Mo curiously asked, "What happened?"

Pei Yuanzhen rubbed his nose and grumbled, "Prince Ji was attacked... his leg was broken!"

Gu Mo asked, surprised, "Was it your grand-master?"

"Absolutely not, definitely not!" Pei Yuanzhen said, his face serious. "The culprit acted very discreetly. People at the scene only saw an old masked Taoist. Neither the Kyoto Prefecture Yamen nor the Six Gates found any clues. It's an unsolved case."

"Quite the unsolved case!" Gu Mo chuckled. "I understand. I'll certainly visit Grandmaster Zhang upon entering the capital."

In fact, even without Pei Yuanzhen's introduction, Gu Mo would have sought to meet Zhang Daoyi in the capital. After all, this was a figure of true martial arts legend—the undisputed number one in the Qian Dynasty, nominally the third greatest in the world, but effectively the second greatest spiritual leader of the Taoist sect!

"Oh, and another thing," Pei Yuanzhen added, "Great Hero Gu, regarding your visit to the Ascension Platform, I've already informed my grand-master, and he has agreed. After you enter the capital this time, he will personally write an imperial decree for you. With it, you can visit Longhu Mountain and enter the Ascension Platform at any time."

"Thank you, Prefect Pei," Gu Mo said, cupping his hands.

Pei Yuanzhen said, "It is I who should thank you. If not for your help, Great Hero Gu, I would have truly fallen this time. Not to mention imprisonment, I would have at least lost my official position! But thanks to you saving me, I have indeed turned misfortune into a blessing."

Gu Mo chuckled, "Allow me to wish you a speedy promotion, Prefect Pei!"

Pei Yuanzhen grinned.

He had indeed turned misfortune into a blessing this time. The matter was too significant, especially the revelation that Mister Dongjing was the Grand Steward of the Seven Absolutes Tower, which shook both the court and the public.

Prince Ji, Li Zhongde, voluntarily took responsibility in court for his poor judgment in choosing people, and then wholeheartedly recommended Pei Yuanzhen. Soon, Pei Yuanzhen would be transferred to the capital.

After a journey of seven days, the convoy escorting the prisoners arrived within the territory of Chang'an City.

However, Gu Mo did not enter the city. Instead, when they were still more than ten li from Chang'an, he found Ye Jinglan, bid him farewell, and stated his intention to visit the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

Princess Chengyang, Li Li, ran over and said, "Gu Mo, I'll send someone to escort you. Hmm, can Chutong not go? I want to take her to my home to play!"

Gu Mo asked Gu Chutong, "Chutong, what do you say?"

Gu Chutong said, "Of course, I'll go with you, Brother."

Li Li pouted aggrievedly, "Chutong, your brother will only be at the Imperial Preceptor's residence for a few days, and you'll enter the city eventually anyway. Just come with me; there are so many fun things in the capital!"

Gu Chutong shook her head slightly, stating plainly, "We'll see then!"

"Chutong..." Li Li was about to say more when Ye Jinglan interrupted, saying, "Your Royal Highness, Brother Gu and Miss Gu are not suitable to visit your Princess's residence right now. If you truly wish to play with Miss Gu without reservations later, it's best for them to visit the Imperial Preceptor's residence immediately."

Li Li pouted and asked, "Why?"

Ye Jinglan replied, "You can ask His Royal Highness Prince Jin when you go back!"

"Alright," Li Li said, looking helplessly at Gu Chutong with a pitiful expression. "Then, when you enter the city in a few days, you must come find me!"

"We'll see how things are then," Gu Chutong replied.

Li Li: "..."

Ye Jinglan walked up to Gu Mo and said, "Brother Gu, the Imperial Preceptor's status is extraordinary. He is one of the rare figures in court who can remain outside the vortex of power. If you can get him to intervene, you won't need to worry too much about factional disputes in the capital."

"I know," Gu Mo nodded.

Ye Jinglan said, "It's also convenient, as I need to hand over cases these next few days. Additionally, I'll use this time to thoroughly investigate the Bloodhand Zitherist Shang Wujiu's case. Then you can directly apprehend him!"

Afterward, they exchanged a few more words, and Gu Mo and Gu Chutong rode away on horseback.

Shortly after they departed, many people from the entourage gradually approached Ye Jinglan and Princess Chengyang, openly and subtly inquiring about Gu Mo and Gu Chutong's whereabouts.

Upon learning that the two had gone to the Imperial Preceptor's residence, everyone's expressions varied. Some secretly breathed a sigh of relief, while others frowned in concern.

The Imperial Preceptor's residence was located on a small peak named Mount Wuwei, just outside Chang'an City.

Compared to the famous mountains and great rivers where Gu Mo had previously visited large sects and schools, Mount Wuwei was insignificant. It was only thirty to forty zhang high, looking like a small mound from a distance.

The Taoist temple on the mountain was also very simple, with green-tiled roofs and mottled mud walls, standing quietly amidst ancient pines and cypresses. Faded copper bells hung from the eaves, chiming softly in the wind. The temple gate was ajar, and the character 'Tao' on the lintel had long been worn away by time.

At the entrance stood a small Taoist boy, appearing to be about seven or eight years old. He was fair-skinned, with chubby cheeks and two small pigtails, yet his expression was remarkably mature. Seeing Gu Mo and Gu Chutong arrive, he stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This humble Taoist, Huaisu, is specially commanded by my master to await the two esteemed guests here!"

Gu Chutong looked at the young Taoist Huaisu, finding him very cute. She reached out to playfully poke his pigtails, but the boy deftly avoided her. She smiled and asked, "Little Taoist, who is your master?"

Taoist Huaisu said with a straight face, "My master is the Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain, with the Taoist name Daoyi!"

Gu Chutong exclaimed in surprise, "You're Grandmaster Zhang's disciple? Wow, you're so young, yet your seniority is so high! Even Pei Yuanzhen has to call you martial uncle, right?"

Taoist Huaisu nodded and said, "Nephew Yuanzhen has always been very polite." Then, he turned, flicked the whisk in his hand, and said, "Esteemed guests, please enter!"

"Brother, he's so mature, isn't he?" Gu Chutong whispered into Gu Mo's ear.

Gu Mo smiled slightly and whispered, "Grandmaster Zhang of Longhu Mountain has thirty-six true disciples. The youngest among them is fifty years old. His Taoist name is Huaisu, and martial artists respectfully call him True Man Huaisu!"

Gu Chutong: "???"

As Gu Chutong stared in shock, Taoist Huaisu pushed open the creaking wooden door. Inside the courtyard, several old plum trees had gnarled branches sprawling, and faint yellow leaves lay on the stone table. The scent of ink mixed with incense wafted gently in the morning mist, creating an ancient and tranquil atmosphere.

Beside the stone table, there was a lounge chair, and on it lay an old Taoist priest... who was as fat as a ball of meat.

His belly was as large as a drum, and layers of dark Taoist robes enveloped his rotund body, making him resemble a large sack stuffed with cotton. His eyes were half-closed, a few strands of silver hair hung on his oily, reddish face, and his plump fingers slowly fiddled with the wine gourd at his waist, occasionally smacking his lips and making contented sounds.

Taoist Huaisu approached, bowed, and said, "Master, Great Hero Gu and Heroine Gu have arrived."

Hearing Taoist Huaisu's address, Gu Mo and Gu Chutong realized that this person was indeed Zhang Daoyi, the current Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain, the third greatest master in the martial arts world, the Imperial Preceptor of the Qian Dynasty, and the leader of the Taoist sect.

Gu Chutong's eyes were filled with astonishment. She had always imagined Zhang Daoyi to be an old immortal with a transcendent demeanor, but seeing him today, apart from being old, he didn't fit any part of her imagination.

Gu Mo stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "This junior, Gu Mo, accompanied by my sister Gu Chutong, pays respects to the venerable Heavenly Master!"

Zhang Daoyi rolled over and said with a chuckle, "Esteemed guests have arrived, esteemed guests have arrived! Huaisu, go and slaughter that Eight Treasures Chicken in the backyard to entertain our guests!"

Taoist Huaisu's eyes widened. "Master, Master, is that chicken mine?"

"Be good. We'll slaughter it for guests today, and in a couple of days, I'll buy you sugar-coated hawthorn sticks."

"Master, I'm over fifty..."

"Do you look like you're over fifty? Children should act like children. Can you go to brothels? Can you..."

"Master, I'll go slaughter the chicken for you right away!"

Taoist Huaisu scurried off on his short legs.

Only then did Zhang Daoyi turn with a smiling face to Gu Mo and Gu Chutong, saying, "Oh dear, please excuse my behavior. My disciple, he's good in every way, but he's just too stingy. He can't even bear to part with one of his chickens..."

From the backyard came Taoist Huaisu's exasperated voice: "Master, can you honestly say that was just 'a' chicken? It's the *only one left*, isn't it?"

Zhang Daoyi: "...Don't listen to his nonsense. Come, come, both of you, please sit."

"We apologize for disturbing you, venerable Heavenly Master!"

Gu Mo and Gu Chutong took their seats.

Zhang Daoyi scrutinized Gu Mo, clucking in admiration. "Remarkable, truly remarkable! Great Hero Gu, at such a young age, your profound cultivation is something this old man has never witnessed in his life. Remarkable, truly remarkable! In less than ten years—no... five years, at most five years—you'll be able to beat that damn Su Qianqiu black and blue!"

Gu Mo asked, puzzled, "Does the venerable Heavenly Master have a feud with Su Qianqiu?"

"No," Zhang Daoyi replied. "I just can't stand that guy; he's too arrogant, too annoying. Ah, how do I put it? Great Hero Gu, you haven't met him. If you did, you'd definitely want to punch him. I've never met anyone who didn't want to hit him."

Gu Chutong blinked her large eyes, full of curiosity. "Is he really that annoying? What exactly did he do?"

Zhang Daoyi waved his hand. "It's not about what he did; it's that he's just an inherently annoying person, understand? It's that arrogant aura. Just looking at his face makes you want to slap him a few times. The problem is, no one can beat him, otherwise he'd have been beaten to death long ago. I've met countless people in my life, but I've never seen anyone so arrogant and annoying!"

Gu Mo and Gu Chutong couldn't help but recall Qi Miaoxuan, who had more than once expressed hope that Gu Mo would quickly become the strongest in the world and give Su Qianqiu a good beating.

Like Zhang Daoyi, Qi Miaoxuan had no animosity towards Su Qianqiu; they had only met once. Yet, Qi Miaoxuan simply wanted to beat Su Qianqiu.

Hearing another contemporary person describe Su Qianqiu in such terms instantly filled Gu Mo with curiosity: what kind of person was he, and how arrogant could he be to reach a level where everyone detested him?

"Never mind, let's not talk about that troublesome fellow," Zhang Daoyi said, waving his hand and sighing. "Although I really want to hit him, I must admit, I'll never get that chance in this lifetime."

Gu Chutong asked in surprise, "Venerable Heavenly Master, you are the second greatest master in the world! Don't the martial arts rumors say you're the closest to Su Qianqiu? You should be comparable to him, right?"

"No, no, no," Zhang Daoyi said. "Little girl, there were two mistakes in what you just said. First, I'm not the second greatest in the world. Well, I'm not talking about the hidden masters in the vast martial arts world, but simply according to the martial arts ranking list, I'm the third greatest. Second, Su Qianqiu and I are not 'comparable'; there's a huge difference."

Gu Chutong said, "The martial arts ranking lists you as the third greatest in the world, but there's only Su Qianqiu ahead of you!"

Zhang Daoyi chuckled, "Although I truly can't stand Su Qianqiu, I have to admit, he's correct in only recognizing himself as the second greatest in the world. Anyone who has seen Jiang Ruoxu wouldn't believe he could be encircled and killed by an army that isn't the