The place where Meng Qi met Cui Xu was not the main hall or study of the City Lord’s Mansion, but rather the garden between the inner and outer courtyards.
Cui Xu was a slender middle-aged man. It was evident that in his youth, he had certainly deserved the description of “handsome, elegant, and dashing.” Even now, with his long beard and graceful demeanor, he exuded a cold yet refined aura from his bones.
Beside him were four companions. Two of them Meng Qi had seen before: one was Cui Jinxiu, the lovely and charming eldest daughter of the Cui family, always dressed in red; the other was Fei Zhengqing, the chief constable, with a long horse-like face and a long beard.
The other two were slightly older than Fei Zhengqing. One was a stout elderly man with white hair and many wrinkles, yet his face was rosy and his back straight, always smiling and giving off a particularly friendly and approachable vibe. The other was over fifty, with a reddish-brown complexion, bushy eyebrows, and thick beard and hair.
When Meng Qi saw this group of five, he hesitated slightly. Cui Jinxiu was here, but Cui Jinhua, the young City Lord, was absent. Could it be that he had gone out on some business?
“Venerable Master Zhen Ding, Cui humbly invites you without prior notice. Please forgive me,” Cui Xu, though always appearing cold and stern, maintained proper etiquette as a righteous sect master.
Meng Qi joined his palms and bluntly replied, “Amitabha, the Twelve Beasts have wreaked havoc upon the martial world, their hands dripping with blood, bearing grave sins. Upon hearing that the Monkey Bandit committed a bloody crime in Tianding City, even if the City Lord had not invited me, this humble monk would have come regardless.”
After greeting Meng Qi, Cui Xu, still maintaining his cold demeanor, nodded and said, “Venerable Master Zhen Ding, your compassionate heart is appreciated. On behalf of Tianding City’s people, I thank you.”
After the pleasantries, Fei Zhengqing took over the conversation with a smile: “Venerable Master Zhen Ding, as a guest far from home, allow me to introduce a few people. I am Fei Zhengqing, the chief constable of Tianding City, responsible for capturing the Monkey Bandit. This is Master You Tongguang, the City Lord’s sworn elder brother, known by the nickname ‘Living God of Wealth.'”
He pointed at the smiling elderly man.
So this is You Tongguang… Meng Qi remained expressionless as he acknowledged him, memorizing every detail of his appearance, physique, clothing, and style.
“This is Master Mu Shan, the overall leader of the eighteen southern waterways, also the City Lord’s sworn elder brother, known as ‘Third Master Mu,'” Fei Zhengqing introduced the elder with the reddish-brown face and thick beard and hair.
Mu Shan nodded slightly, his gaze toward Meng Qi filled with suspicion.
“I won’t introduce Jinxiu, my niece; I’m sure you two are already familiar,” Fei Zhengqing said, his smile fading as he earnestly continued, “Venerable Master Zhen Ding, your ability to wound the Monkey Bandit with a blade proves you are undoubtedly one of the top martial experts in the land. We would appreciate your assistance in capturing him.”
“Hmph,” Mu Shan chuckled with a hint of disdain but made no further provocative moves.
“Chief Constable Fei, please proceed with your questions,” Meng Qi replied calmly, unafraid that Fei Zhengqing would identify him as the Monkey Bandit merely by observing his height, as it was quite ordinary and similar to the Monkey Bandit’s.
Fei Zhengqing nodded. “Please don’t mind my interrogation, Venerable Master. I must apologize in advance, as it’s just my habit.”
After receiving Meng Qi’s affirmative response, he began his questioning: “May I ask where you came from and where you encountered the Monkey Bandit?”
“This humble monk has just returned from the far west, wandering the land in search of enlightenment. While sailing along the river, I happened to witness the Monkey Bandit brutally killing Master Zhang and his wife…” As Fei Zhengqing asked question after question, Meng Qi described the events with a mix of truth and fabrication. He portrayed himself as possessing exceptional blade skills, wounding the Monkey Bandit severely with a single move, though the Monkey Bandit managed to escape by feigning death due to his body-hardening techniques.
Fei Zhengqing continued probing into the details, but Meng Qi had already meticulously rehearsed his story to ensure consistency with the account from Master Zhang and his wife, revealing no contradictions.
“Venerable Master Zhen Ding, you truly deserve the title of Blade Master. For the Monkey Bandit, with his formidable body-hardening techniques and blade skills, to be defeated by you is truly admirable. To be honest, judging from the ease with which Jin Ancheng, the Tower Lord, was killed and the lack of significant signs of struggle at the scene, I fear I might not be the Monkey Bandit’s match,” Fei Zhengqing praised with a smile, though his expression still carried a hint of doubt.
Even if the Monkey Bandit’s injuries were not serious due to his body-hardening techniques, it was still incredible that he could recover so quickly and defeat Fei Zhengqing in the second half of the night after being wounded in the first half. Unless the Monkey Bandit’s martial arts had reached a level just one step away from unlocking the secrets of the human body, it would be difficult to believe.
If that were the case, then Zhen Ding, who had defeated him head-on, must at least be at the same level. Considering his age, this was truly terrifying!
Before Meng Qi could respond, Mu Shan let out a humorless laugh and stared at Meng Qi with piercing eyes like an eagle: “Venerable Master Zhen Ding, your story is well-told, but this old man finds it hard to believe. Even if you are a prodigy, you still need years of hard work!”
“Let this old man test you!”
Before he finished speaking, he had already drawn his long blade from his waist and charged forward. Neither Cui Xu, Fei Zhengqing, nor You Tongguang tried to stop him. Instead, they all watched Meng Qi with intense gazes.
Meng Qi, sitting calmly on the stone bench with a faint smile, remained still and unmoving. With a single light slash, like a gazelle hanging its horns, he struck at the most uncomfortable spot in Mu Shan’s attack just as it was about to unfold.
This was not the Blood Blade technique, nor the Five Tigers Severing the Gate Blade method. It was a few moves Meng Qi had derived over the past seven months while studying the “A-nan Breaking the Precepts Blade Method.” He had taken the simpler variations from “Breaking Purity” and, using his two existing blade techniques as a foundation, developed a few moves free of blade intent.
In time, Meng Qi hoped this could evolve into a complete blade method, a formidable one even for the Qi-opening stage.
Even without the immersion in blade intent, the variations lacked the essence and brilliance. But by the standards of Qi-accumulation practitioners, these moves were still exquisitely refined, subtly imbued with an indescribable charm.
In this world, apart from the Seven Grandmasters he had yet to face, Meng Qi believed the most elite martial artists were at the level of near Qi-opening mastery—though for some reason, he felt that cultivation in this world seemed to lack something, with more obstacles and far less efficiency than when he trained in his own Shaolin.
Seeing Meng Qi’s miraculous blade move, Cui Xu slightly narrowed his eyes, while Fei Zhengqing and You Tongguang simultaneously wiped other expressions from their faces, their focus mingled with shock.
Mu Shan felt his blood surge and his breath falter as his attack was interrupted at a crucial moment. But he was old in age only, not in spirit. Gritting his teeth, he changed tactics, stepping sideways around Meng Qi and slashing diagonally.
Meng Qi did not move his feet or shift his body. With a casual slash, like a waterfall cascading down with thunderous noise, he struck the weakest part of Mu Shan’s blade, forcing him to retreat a step.
With a furious roar, Mu Shan charged again, but each of his next three attacks fizzled out after Meng Qi casually countered with a single blade move, like thunderclouds without rain.
“Brother Three, stop testing him. Venerable Master Zhen Ding’s blade technique is truly miraculous,” Cui Xu intervened, stopping Mu Shan from continuing and describing Meng Qi’s derived moves as “miraculous.”
Mu Shan stopped, gasping heavily. As he recalled what had just happened, his stubbornly upheld competitive spirit shattered.
Seeing this, Meng Qi smiled slightly: “Your City Lord’s praise is too generous.”
His few moves were still too scattered, not forming a systematic technique, and the transitions between variations were not smooth enough. If he continued fighting, the current magical effect would fade, and after a few more moves, Mu Shan might detect the flaws, forcing Meng Qi to rise from the stone bench and engage in a battle of footwork. Once he used the “Hundred Changes of Divine Steps” footwork, Fei Zhengqing would surely recognize it. Last night, when he barely survived under the Black Shadow Sword, the “Hundred Changes of Divine Steps” had been displayed to the fullest.
Therefore, it was just in time when Cui Xu called for a stop.
Cui Xu turned to Fei Zhengqing, who shook his head in shock and solemnity, indicating that this blade technique was completely different from the Monkey Bandit’s, belonging to an entirely different level.
The Monkey Bandit’s blade technique, apart from the common wide and sweeping moves, carried an eerie and bizarre quality, making his blade and footwork unpredictable and unorthodox, unlike the righteous path. In contrast, Venerable Master Zhen Ding’s blade technique was filled with profound meaning, embodying deep principles and exquisite intricacies.
From the moment Meng Qi drew his blade, Cui Jinxiu, the eldest daughter of the Cui family, had not closed her mouth, staring blankly at the duel between the two. Only now did she murmur as if in a dream: “Venerable Master, it turns out you never used your full strength when we fought…”
She had thought the gap between herself and the Venerable Master and the Monkey Bandit wasn’t that significant…
Cui Xu stood up, clasped his hands, and bowed: “Due to the Monkey Bandit’s prior injuries, I previously suspected that the Monkey Bandit last night might have been an impersonation by the Venerable Master. Now it seems I have wrongly judged a noble person with a petty mindset. Please forgive me.”
He spoke candidly and sincerely apologized.
“I understand the City Lord’s urgency,” Meng Qi replied “sincerely.”
Just as he was about to inquire about the Monkey Bandit’s crime, a servant rushed into the garden, his face filled with shock and panic.
“City Lord! City Lord! Something terrible has happened!” He waved a red letter in his hand without focusing on the details.
Everyone, including Meng Qi, turned to look. Cui Xu calmly said, “Speak slowly.”
The servant took a couple of breaths, handed the red letter to Cui Xu, and said, “City Lord, this is the challenge letter from the White Robe Sword God. In seven days, he will come to challenge you.”
This matter had already spread widely, so he did not consider Meng Qi’s presence.
“The White Robe Sword God” Luo Qing?
He was one of the Seven Grandmasters!
This would be a rare Grandmaster duel!
Everyone, including Meng Qi, was greatly shocked, but Cui Xu’s expression remained unchanged: “Cui has long wished to learn from the sword techniques of Master Luo.”
With this single sentence, he accepted the challenge. An inevitable Grandmaster battle was coming!
“What a troublesome time…” You Tongguang and Fei Zhengqing both sighed simultaneously.
Because of this incident, their attention shifted from the Monkey Bandit. After a brief exchange with Meng Qi, they sent him off.
“They’re still using the same story circulating outside. What are they trying to hide? Or are they afraid of alarming the snake?” This complicated situation left Meng Qi scratching his head.
“However, with such a big event happening today, You Tongguang will probably return home very late, giving me an opportunity,” Meng Qi mused to himself.
Since You Tongguang might be a remnant of the Snow Spirit Palace and could possess strange martial arts like the “Great Transformation Technique,” Meng Qi did not directly confront him as he had with Jin Ancheng, but instead planned to approach the matter more indirectly.
Moreover, Meng Qi also wanted to use this opportunity to find a way to complete his side mission.
…
As night fell, Meng Qi, having kept an eye on You’s residence and confirmed that You Tongguang had not yet returned, changed into night clothes, put on a mask, and stealthily entered You Tongguang’s study using his footwork.
Inside You Tongguang’s study, there was nothing particularly unusual except for a statue of a Buddha carved from jade, seemingly worth a fortune.
Meng Qi searched further around You Tongguang’s bedroom but found no clues related to the Snow Spirit Palace. He then returned to the study, found a blank sheet of paper, and deliberately altered his handwriting to imitate the style of the famous thief Chu Liuxiang:
“I have heard of your jade Buddha statue, a masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship, a wonder of divine artistry. I could not help but yearn for it. Today, I have finally seen it in person, and indeed, it lives up to its reputation.
Yet to take it without asking would be impolite. I leave this letter to inform you honestly. Six days from now, I shall come to claim it under the moonlight. I trust you, a man of culture and refinement, will not disappoint me.
Respectfully,
The Monkey Bandit
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage