“Luojiao?” Because of his previous encounters with Gu Xiaosang, Meng Qi was particularly sensitive to the name Luojiao.
At the same time, he secretly observed Hua Lun and noticed his resemblance to Hua Tian Ge before confirming his identity. Otherwise, how could he believe someone who suddenly claimed to be Hua Lun without any proof?
Hua Lun, in his desperation, needed someone to deliver a message. Without knowing anything about Meng Qi, he took out a dark purple copper badge engraved with unique cloud patterns and the words “Hua Lun.”
When he held it, the badge emitted a faint purple glow, warm and gentle.
“Cloud-patterned purple bronze. It indeed is a token of the Zhenyi Sect,” Meng Qi nodded lightly, no longer doubting Hua Lun’s identity.
Larger sects or influential families usually had similar “identity markers”—perhaps a token, perhaps an ice crystal on the back of the hand, or a small sword hanging at the waist. These markers were specially crafted with imprints left by masters of the external realm, making them difficult to forge. Moreover, during their creation, a drop of the owner’s blood was added. Thus, when held or when internal energy was actively circulated, they would produce a bloodline resonance, emitting a unique glow that revealed the owner’s identity.
The Shaolin Sect’s “identity marker” was a string of prayer beads engraved with one’s Dharma name, which was only granted after officially embarking on a journey outside the monastery. Since Meng Qi and Zhen Hui were accompanying their master on this journey merely as witnesses, they had not received theirs.
After confirming Hua Lun’s identity, he asked, “May I know your honorable name and sect affiliation, young sir?”
“My name is Meng Qi, from the Divine Capital, temporarily residing in Xiliang. I’m just an unknown figure in the martial world, fortunate enough to have received sword instruction from an elder of the Dugu Clan. Currently, I’m traveling across the land,” Meng Qi repeated the introduction he had prepared earlier.
Hua Lun frowned. Such an introduction revealed nothing about whether Meng Qi was good or evil, righteous or heretical. How could he entrust him with a task without knowing this?
With great effort, he sat up and scrutinized Meng Qi. Noting his handsome and dignified appearance, exuding a carefree yet heroic demeanor, Hua Lun clenched his teeth and made a decision: “I implore you, Master Meng, to go to the Zhenyi Sect on my behalf and seek their aid.”
“There’s no rush. Please, Master Hua, explain the situation thoroughly,” Meng Qi naturally wanted to understand the matter fully before deciding whether to help.
Understanding Meng Qi’s concerns, Hua Lun spoke earnestly: “Two days ago, I heard that a branch of the Zhang Clan from Longnan was coming to support Huang Yun. Worried they might take advantage of the weak, I informed my father and set off that very night to return to the sect and request intervention from the elders or senior brothers. However, in a secluded area of the nearby mountains, I discovered Huang Yun and a member of the Zhang Clan secretly meeting someone. They appeared to be discussing the seizure of a peculiar stone.”
“I was deeply shocked, so I listened carefully and found out that the other person was actually Luojiao’s Zhikong Envoy. The strange stone from beyond the heavens seemed to hold another secret. They planned to monopolize it together with the branch of the Zhang Clan from Longnan and the Qinshan Sword Sect. They agreed on a scheme where they would publicly compete, but secretly create an opportunity for Luojiao to seize the stone. This way, the branch of the Zhang Clan from Longnan and the Qinshan Sword Sect could avoid suspicion, and during the pursuit, they would deliberately let Luojiao escape.”
Luojiao was one of the nine heretical sects of evil and demons, always secretly spreading its teachings under the suppression of orthodox sects like Shaolin. Its internal structure was not well known to outsiders. Even Shaolin only knew that the top level of Luojiao consisted of the Dharma King and the Holy Maiden, the second level was the Twelve Divine Envoys, and the lowest level leaders were the “Zhi Kong Envoy.” What lay between was unclear.
“Then you were discovered?” Meng Qi looked at the black blood dripping from Hua Lun’s back.
Hua Lun nodded: “Our sect has a secret technique to conceal one’s presence, so initially, I wasn’t noticed. However, after Huang Yun, the Zhang Clan member, and the Luojiao Zhikong Envoy left, I was discovered by the returning envoy while I was preparing to continue my journey to the sect. Relying on my sword techniques and special skills, I barely escaped after taking a blow from the ‘Black God Palm.'”
He turned his back sideways, revealing a clear black palm print.
The area was completely rotten, exposing swollen skin with a blackish hue. A slight touch caused the skin to ulcerate, oozing black pus and blood.
“It’s indeed Luojiao,” Meng Qi nodded slightly. The “Black God Palm” was a signature martial skill of Luojiao’s Zhikong Envoy level, known for its distinctive, sinister, and malevolent characteristics. Once struck, the skin would ulcerate, and if the palm force and internal poison weren’t promptly removed, the condition would gradually spread to the internal organs, leading to a painful death.
“Master Hua, your injury must be treated immediately,” Meng Qi said.
This had already been delayed for two full days. Even if they reached the Zhenyi Sect in another day, it would only be possible to barely save his life, while his martial cultivation would definitely suffer irreparable losses.
Hua Lun was aware of his condition; otherwise, he wouldn’t have acted so recklessly just now: “I beg you, Master Meng, to assist me.”
Meng Qi gripped his sword with his right hand and placed his left on Hua Lun’s back, channeling his internal energy to help expel the palm force and black poison.
Hua Lun felt a stream of righteous and pure Qi enter his body, instantly invigorating his spirit. He used it to gather his own internal energy, gradually forcing out the residual force and toxins of the Black God Palm.
“Judging from the Qi, this Master Meng must be a righteous person,” he nodded inwardly.
Under normal circumstances, unless one had already experienced the same Qi circulating within their body or the martial skill’s Qi was particularly unique, it was difficult for an Open Acupoint cultivator to determine which martial skill the Qi belonged to merely by its nature. For example, Meng Qi’s Golden Bell Cover only exhibited a righteous and pure characteristic. Before reaching the External Realm, it did not carry the serene and holy aura of Buddhist martial skills, making it indistinguishable from many other internal techniques. Only when actively circulated, displaying the distinctive features of the Golden Bell Cover on the body, could others identify it.
Stream after stream of black pus and blood flowed out, and the palm print on Hua Lun’s back gradually subsided, revealing pale but normal skin.
Puh! Hua Lun spat out a mouthful of black blood, suddenly feeling much better. He clasped his hands and said, “Thank you, Master Meng, for your assistance.”
Meng Qi withdrew his left hand and smiled: “Could Luojiao have sent people to pursue you?”
“They have! Somehow, they’ve already spread their influence throughout the Three Mountains and Four Rivers, recruiting many skilled disciples, including those at the Open窍 stage. They trapped me in this mountain. If it weren’t for the secret passage I discovered in this statue during my childhood, I would have been captured long ago. Currently, they might be blocking all the main paths down the mountain, searching for my trail,” Hua Lun warned earnestly. “When you go to the Zhenyi Sect to deliver the message, Master Meng, you must remain calm and composed. Otherwise, they won’t hesitate to kill anyone who might be a threat.”
“Oh, by the way, if my sect is hesitant about confronting Luojiao, please follow them to the Zhenwu Sect. I have some acquaintance with a disciple from the Zhang Clan of Zhenwu, and I can ask them to mediate. This token will serve as proof.”
“What a coincidence…” Meng Qi smiled at him. “Why go to the Zhenyi Sect? Will going there be helpful?”
“Huh?” Hua Lun was very puzzled.
“Today, the strange stone has already been lost. If I were Huang Yun and the others, in the case of your disappearance for two days, I would definitely frame you for this. They would say that you and your father couldn’t bear to part with the celestial stone, so you pretended to disappear and actually conspired from within to steal the stone, thus allowing them to take it all. At that time, you wouldn’t be able to explain yourself on the day of the birthday banquet since you wouldn’t be present at the Zhenyi Sect or in the main hall. After all, the stone was lost under your father’s watch,” Meng Qi said with a calm smile.
Hua Lun thought carefully and turned pale, stammering, “Master Meng, you can testify for me. I still have the residual traces of the Black God Palm on me!”
“If you had colluded with Luojiao to seize the stone, the Black God Palm injury could have been faked afterward as a ruse,” Meng Qi said with a smile. “And as for me, I only met you after the incident. What proof do I have to testify for you?”
Hua Lun’s face grew even paler as he imagined his future reputation. He looked at Meng Qi with a glimmer of hope: “Master Meng, what do you advise me to do?”
Meng Qi, with an air of leisurely confidence, seemed to have everything figured out.
“Do you know Zhang Yuanshan of the Zhang Clan from Zhenwu?” Meng Qi asked instead of answering.
Hua Lun was taken aback and then smiled bitterly: “Brother Zhang is the most prestigious disciple of the Zhenwu Sect’s current generation. What merit or ability do I have to associate with him? However, I do have some acquaintance with two of his cousins.”
“I see,” Meng Qi nodded slightly and smiled. “To resolve this matter is actually quite simple. The key lies in recovering the strange stone. With the stone in hand, you can calmly participate in the competition. Who could then frame you?”
“Recover the strange stone?” Hua Lun’s eyes lit up, but then dimmed again. “This place is still a day’s journey from my sect. Even if we bring help, the Luojiao people will have already fled far away with the stone.”
“Well then, I can be your helper,” Meng Qi said brightly.
Hua Lun wasn’t too optimistic: “Master Meng, you must think carefully. This matter is extremely dangerous.”
Judging by the intensity of Meng Qi’s internal energy, Hua Lun estimated his cultivation level to be between the fourth and sixth apertures.
“First, I’ll help you descend the mountain and return to the Zengxian Sect to find your sect leader, Hua Menzhu. Then the entire sect can mobilize to recover the stone,” Meng Qi said casually. Since the sect had a Nine Apertures expert named Ning Jidao, naturally, Hua Tian Ge would have to be involved. “Master Hua, you’ve been eavesdropping for so long. You should have some idea where the Luojiao people might temporarily hide to avoid being captured, right?”
Hua Lun thought for a moment and then nodded firmly: “It should be there. Master Meng, why are you so willing to help me? If it’s something I can do, I will definitely agree!”
“I have some grievances with Luojiao, and I’ve always been the type to repay even the smallest offense,” Meng Qi said, hands behind his back, smiling with a row of white teeth. “Hehe, just kidding. Actually, I’ve always been a chivalrous and righteous person with a heart for justice.”
Meng Qi judged that Luojiao didn’t have any particularly strong experts here since Hua Lun had managed to escape.
Actually, I believe the first reason more… Hua Lun thought silently. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Master Meng, if we can recover the strange stone, I will persuade my father to let you contemplate it for three days.”
“Great,” Meng Qi didn’t hesitate, to prevent Hua Lun from becoming suspicious. “There’s no time to lose. I’ll carry you down the mountain to the Zengxian Sect now.”
Although Hua Lun had expelled the palm force, two days had already passed, and he still needed at least one or two hours to fully recover his mobility. Even if Meng Qi didn’t take Hua Lun and acted alone, suddenly descending the mountain at night would still face interception and could expose Hua Lun’s hiding place. In that case, it was better to take him along.
Hua Lun bowed in gratitude and, at the end, reminded Meng Qi with concern and caution: “Master Meng, the Luojiao followers must have already blocked the paths down the mountain. Among them are many powerful experts. If you encounter them, don’t try to fight head-on or get entangled. Be careful in everything you do.”
Meng Qi smiled without answering, placed the Ice Gate Sword across his chest, flicked it, producing a sound like a dragon’s roar, and declared loudly: “Let them come and test my sword.”
At this moment, a line of poetry suddenly came to his mind: “Ten steps to kill a man, a thousand miles without leaving a trace.”
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