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“What am I afraid of?” Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. These years, my thoughts have grown faint, but as for my nature, I won’t hide my head and live in fear.”
“That’s good. If we two brothers join forces, we won’t necessarily fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth, “If they really dare to turn their backs on us, we’ll just fight until both perish!”
“I won’t risk my life for them,” Bai snorted, “I won’t get involved in your brothers’ affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Bai, somewhat uncertainly saying, “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you even save her son?”
Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head with a sigh, “If he really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was now covered with dark clouds, heavy and oppressive.
“Alright, I’ll go wake Meimei now and have her take Mei Qing to Wudang Mountain, to Taishang Rock to hide for a while,” Liu Xing sighed, “to avoid being caught by someone, which might cause some inconvenience.”
“Taishang Rock? That’s your old lover’s cultivation place, isn’t it? You know her cultivation level yourself. Do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Bai’s voice was cold and slightly mocking, “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her, and knows all these years who you’ve been thinking about. If she finds out that Mei Qing is the son of the Fifth Flower, with her jealousy, she might even harm Mei Qing. Meimei may have good potential, but her cultivation is still shallow and she can’t protect Mei Qing. Where else can the two of them hide?”
Bai remained silent. After a while, he finally said, “There’s something strange. Have you checked Mei Qing? I mean, have you noticed any signs of cultivation on him?”
“How could that be?” Liu Xing laughed, “You know his physical condition. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course I checked, and neither he nor his companion showed any signs of cultivation.”
Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s the son of the Fifth Flower, naturally unable to cultivate. Probably I was mistaken.”
He shook his head again and said, “In my opinion, if you really want him to hide, no place is safe, except perhaps that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous. Besides, we had already agreed back then not to disturb the Fifth Flower anymore. If you think Taishang Rock is not suitable, I’ll find another way.”
“Then you keep thinking,” Bai said, “I guess you might have trouble with your second senior brother, and the fourth might already be on his way. What good fortune indeed.” A hoarse voice suddenly rose, echoing beneath the grass pavilion, shaking the thick layer of thatch on the roof, causing dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Bai were both startled, turning their gazes northward. Under the dark sky, a white glowing ball flew from afar, getting closer and larger, until it was over a meter wide when it reached the mansion.
“It’s really come,” Liu Xing muttered angrily, “Did he hear everything we just said?”
Bai shook his head, “No, he was still far away just now. He was just bluffing.”
Then he sneered at the glowing ball, “Fourth Master, why leave the comforts of the capital to come to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a reply, Bai sneered again, “You two brothers haven’t seen each other for years. Just catch up. Old Bai here doesn’t feel like dealing with you, so don’t bother with me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion. Then the light suddenly flared, almost blinding. After the light dimmed, a thin figure appeared on the roof of the pavilion.
The old man was short, with sparse hair and beard, neatly combed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, glowed with black light, looking eerie. He wore only a simple hemp robe and stood high on the roof of the pavilion, laughing loudly with arrogance, “Bai, you’re right. This is our brothers’ business; you’d better not interfere, to avoid embarrassment.”
Then he suddenly turned his head, fixing his eyes tightly on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that kid?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a kidnapper?” Liu Xing sneered, “Not seen each other for so many years, and the first thing you ask for is a person? What kid? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, that’s not very interesting,” the old man in the hemp robe chuckled, “It’s like finding something without effort after searching everywhere! I was just wondering why you went to such lengths to have someone check on that Mei kid. Haha, now I understand!”
“You’re talking about that,” Liu Xing’s expression remained calm, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is the one your niece is fond of. Before I marry my daughter, don’t I need to check his background and character? Don’t you want to know too?”
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my ambitions have faded, but given my nature, I won’t cower and hide.”
“That’s good, with the two of us working together, we might not have to fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the bitter end!”
“I won’t risk my life for them,” Master Bai snorted, “Your brotherly affairs, I won’t interfere.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, somewhat uncertain, “You might not help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it’s really her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making the atmosphere extremely heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go wake Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at the Tai Shang Rock,” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better than being caught by the city people, which would be inappropriate.”
“Tai Shang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her, and who you’ve been longing for all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, wouldn’t she be furious? Although Mei’er has good potential, her cultivation is still too short to protect Mei Qing. Where else can we hide them?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you examined Mei Qing? I mean, does he show any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. He can’t cultivate. I’ve checked, including his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
Then he shook his head and said, “If you really want to hide him, nowhere is safe, except perhaps that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous? Besides, we agreed years ago not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Tai Shang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then think slowly, I guess your second brother is hard to convince, even the fourth brother is probably already on his way, how fortunate.” A hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, stirring the thick thatch on the roof, causing dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turned northward, where a bright white light was flying towards them in the dark, lightless sky. The light flew closer and closer, growing larger and larger, until it reached the front of the mansion, already several feet in size.
“They’ve really come,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away, it’s just a bluff.”
Then, he sneered at the light and said, “Fourth Master, instead of enjoying your fortune in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a response, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other in years, go ahead and catch up. Old Bai doesn’t care to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then the light burst forth, almost blinding. After the light faded, a thin figure appeared on the roof of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes under short eyebrows flickered with black light, looking eerie. He wore only a linen robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughing wildly, “Master Bai is right, it’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly affairs, to avoid trouble.”
Then, he suddenly turned, his eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, you come and ask me for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the linen-robed old man chuckled, “It’s truly a case of searching far and wide only to find it right under your nose! I wondered why you sent someone to investigate that boy surnamed Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said with a normal expression, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is your niece’s sweetheart, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check his family background and character? Do you want to interfere in that too?”
The linen-robed old man laughed hoarsely, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, I’ve naturally found out everything. The ancients said the darkest place is under the lamp, and Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, never expecting he’s been right under our noses for so long. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy, and didn’t notice! Haha, to think that the great Master Dian could also be mistaken!”
He continued to laugh coldly. Mei Qing, listening nearby, suddenly remembered the voice of the linen-robed old man. Back at the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he was chasing Yang Jin and finally seizing the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone guardian was exactly the same as this old man’s.
So this Mr. Liu is actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiren Tao Zhongwen and this linen-robed old man referred to as “Fourth Brother.” Hearing the linen-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” naturally they are ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo,” and heard Lu Bing say his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect. So, Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this linen-robed old man should all be disciples of the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade, with two of its members in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even serving the court as the national teacher; while Liu Xing lives in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
But what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing, has already passed away, presumably no longer with us. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he have died without a clear reason?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he couldn’t find anything, it just proves Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know after seeing him,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, Third Brother, don’t let Mei Qing come between our brotherly harmony.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re being polite to me? Enough of the small talk, if you cherish our brotherhood, leave quickly. If you insist on causing trouble, Liu will have to risk his life to accompany you!”
Seeing Liu Xing provoke him, the linen-robed old man was not angered. Without any movement, he suddenly flashed from the pavilion roof to the ground, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at Liu Xing for a while, and said solemnly, “Mr. Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but only because you entered the sect before me. In fact, when Master took you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you secretly admired our junior sister, and were heartbroken when she married, your cultivation regressed instead of advancing… To say you could fight me, not to exaggerate, within three quarters, you would die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but don’t expect me to surrender,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the linen-robed old man.
“How strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The linen-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then thoughtfully turned to the silent Master Bai, “What? Old Bai, are you also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai still stood motionless, his eyes half-closed, “Your brotherly affairs, I don’t interfere.”
Then, he turned to the linen-robed old man and shook his head, “However, Mei’er is a girl I’ve watched grow up. Finally, she’s grown up and found a suitable husband, and you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very honorable.” His black-glowing eyes moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai, then suddenly burst into laughter, “So that’s it, so that’s it. Fine, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he smiled at Liu Xing, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable groom, on this happy occasion, brother would like to ask for a cup of wine, I hope Third Brother won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Fine, fine,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “We’ll meet again.” Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, when did you and Third Brother get so close? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
With that, he laughed loudly, his figure suddenly twisted and thinned, a light shield formed around his body, gradually turning into a light sphere like when he came, and with a light leap, he rose high above the grass pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, he spat in hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, today it’s all thanks to you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we must be careful.” (Please log in to www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have faded, but with my temperament, I’m not the type to hide my head and live in fear.”
“That’s good, with the two of us working together, we might not be afraid of them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn heartless, at most we’ll fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in the matters between you brothers.”
Liu Xing turned to look at Master Bai, somewhat uncertainly, “You don’t have to help with my affairs, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent, the moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, the sky was covered with dark clouds, making everything feel overwhelmingly heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and wake Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing go to Wudang Mountain, to Taishang Rock to hide.” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better than being caught by the people from the city, there might be some issues.”
“Taishang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you didn’t marry her, and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out that Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just devour Mei Qing in anger. Although Mei’er has good potential, her cultivation is still short, she can’t protect Mei Qing. Where should we hide them both?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you examined Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could that be?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, along with his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
After saying that, he shook his head again, “If you really want to hide him, nowhere is safe, except for that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Isn’t that too dangerous? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Taishang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then think slowly, I guess your second senior brother won’t be easy to persuade, even the fourth, he’s probably already on his way.” A hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, they both looked towards the north, under the dark and lightless sky, a white light mass was flying from afar. The light mass flew closer and closer, bigger and bigger, when it reached the mansion, it was already more than ten feet in size.
“They’re really here,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
After saying that, he sneered at the light mass, “Fourth Master, why aren’t you enjoying your fortune in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for the other party to answer, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for many years, just catch up. Old Bai doesn’t want to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light mass stopped on the grass pavilion, then the light burst out, almost blinding. After the light flashed, it dimmed down, and a thin figure appeared on top of the grass pavilion.
The old man was not tall, his hair and beard were sparse, neatly trimmed. His two eyes under short eyebrows flashed with black light, looking eerie. He was only wearing a linen robe, standing high on the grass pavilion, “Haha” laughed a few times, with a hint of arrogance, “Master Bai is right, it’s best not to interfere in the matters between us brothers, lest you find yourself in trouble.”
After saying that, he suddenly turned his head, his two eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you change your profession to human trafficking?” Liu Xing sneered, “We haven’t seen each other for many years, and the first thing you do is ask me for someone? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the linen-robed old man chuckled, “It’s really a case of searching high and low, and finding it without any effort! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy surnamed Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said with a normal expression, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. That Mei Qing is the person your niece fancies, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check the family background and character of the other party? Do you even want to interfere in this?”
The linen-robed old man listened, then let out a series of hoarse laughter, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve traveled thousands of miles in the night, naturally I’ve found out everything. The ancients said that the darkest place is under the lamp, Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, we really didn’t expect him to be hiding under our noses for so many years. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, the dignified Master Dian, also has times when he’s blind!”
As he spoke, he let out a series of cold laughter. Mei Qing, who was listening on the side, was moved, suddenly remembering the voice of the linen-robed old man. At that time, in the ancestral hall of Yang Zui’s house, when he went to chase Yang Jin and finally grabbed the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone protector was exactly the same as the old man in front of him.
So this Mr. Liu is actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiwen Tao Zhongwen and this linen-robed old man known as “Fourth Brother”. Hearing the linen-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother”, naturally they are ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo”, and heard Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” under the Plum Blossom Sect. So, Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this linen-robed old man should all be under the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for more than ten years, among the six disciples, two are in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even joined the court, becoming the national teacher; while Liu Xing lives in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
It’s just that I don’t know what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect. And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing’s words, has already passed away, presumably he is no longer here. But Fan Wentai is said to have amazing cultivation, how could he pass away without a clear reason?
“I trust Second Brother’s eyesight,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he didn’t notice after seeing him, it just proves that Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know after seeing him,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, Third Brother, don’t let that boy Mei Qing damage the harmony between brothers.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re actually being polite to me? Enough of the idle talk, if you cherish the brotherhood today, then leave quickly. If you insist on lingering, Liu will have to risk his life to accompany you!”
The linen-robed old man saw Liu Xing’s provocative words, but he was not angry. He made no movement at all, suddenly flashed from the top of the pavilion to the bottom, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at Liu Xing for a long time, and said in a deep voice, “Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but it’s only because you entered the sect earlier than me. In fact, when the master accepted you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were the weakest. Especially later, when you secretly loved the younger sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation not only didn’t improve, but regressed… If you fight with me, it’s not an exaggeration to say that within three quarters of an hour, you will die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, then take my life, but if you want me to surrender, forget it.” Liu Xing said coldly, his two long sleeves hanging down on both sides of his body, his two eyes staring straight at the linen-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The linen-robed old man had a playful smile on his face, looked at Liu Xing a few times, then thoughtfully turned to the silent Master Bai, “What? Does Old Bai also want to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai still stood there motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in the matters between you brothers.”
After saying that, he turned to look at the linen-robed old man and shook his head, “However, I watched Mei’er grow up. It’s not easy for the girl to grow up and find a suitable husband, but you come here shouting and killing to take people away, that’s not very righteous.” His eyes with black light flickered back and forth on Liu Xing and Master Bai’s faces a few times, then suddenly laughed out loud, “So that’s it, so that’s it. Well, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go today.”
After saying that, he smiled at Liu Xing again, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy day, brother would like to ask for a cup of wine, I guess Third Brother won’t refuse, right?”
“The legs are on your own body, if I refuse, won’t you come?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Good, good,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Then we’ll meet again.” He turned to Master Bai again, “Old Bai, when did you hook up with Third Brother? If it’s about that year… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
As he spoke, he laughed loudly, his body suddenly twisted and thinned, a light shield formed around his body, gradually becoming the same light mass as when he came, lightly retreated, and had already risen high above the grass pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only the laughter still echoed under the grass pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as calm as water, he spat with hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, today I owe you a lot.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please log in to www.qidian.com for more chapters)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have also faded, but with my temperament, I won’t shrink back from being a person.”
“That’s good, with the two of us teaming up, we might not necessarily fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn heartless, at most it’s a fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight them to the death either,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in the matters between you brothers.”
Liu Xing turned to look at Master Bai, somewhat uncertainly, “You don’t have to help with my matters, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent, the moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, the sky was covered with dark clouds, making everything feel overwhelmingly heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go call Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing go to Wudang Mountain, to the Tai Shang Rock to hide.” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better than being caught by the people from the city, which would be inappropriate.”
“Tai Shang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you didn’t marry her, and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just eat Mei Qing alive in anger: “Mei’er has good potential, but her cultivation is still short, she can’t protect Mei Qing. Where should we hide them?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you checked Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could that be?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, along with his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
Then he shook his head and said, “If you really want to hide him, nowhere is safe, except for that place…”
“No, no.” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous, right? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Tai Shang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way: “Then you think slowly, I guess your second senior brother is hard to say, but the fourth, he’s probably already on the road, lucky as it is.” A hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turned to the north, where a white light mass was flying from a distance under the dark and lightless sky. The light mass flew closer and closer, bigger and bigger, when it reached the mansion, it was already more than ten feet in size.
“Sure enough, he’s here,” Liu Xing said hatefully, “Did he hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, he was still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
Then, he sneered at the light mass, “Fourth Master, why not enjoy your fortune in the capital, what brings you back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for an answer, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, catch up on your own. Old Bai doesn’t want to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light mass stopped above the grass pavilion. Then the light burst, almost blinding. After the light flashed, it dimmed, and a thin figure appeared on top of the grass pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes under two short eyebrows flashed with black light, looking eerie. He was wearing only a linen robe, standing high on the grass pavilion, laughing a few times, with a hint of arrogance, “Master Bai is right, it’s best not to interfere in our brothers’ matters, to avoid making things awkward.”
Then, he suddenly turned his head, his eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you change your profession to a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, you come and ask me for a person? What boy, what are you talking about?”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the linen-robed old man chuckled, “It’s really a case of searching high and low, and finding it without any effort! I was wondering why you sent someone to check on that boy surnamed Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said with a normal expression, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is the person your niece is interested in, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check the other party’s family background and character? Do you want to interfere with that too?”
The linen-robed old man let out a series of hoarse laughs, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, naturally I’ve checked everything clearly. The ancients said that the darkest place is under the lamp, Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, we really didn’t expect him to be hiding under our noses for so many years. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, the dignified Master Dian would also be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he let out a series of cold laughs. Mei Qing, who was listening nearby, felt a stir in his heart, suddenly remembering the voice of the linen-robed old man. Back in the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he went to chase Yang Jin and finally grabbed the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone protector was exactly the same as the old man in front of him.
So this Mr. Liu is actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiwen Tao Zhongwen and this linen-robed old man known as “Fourth Brother”. Hearing the linen-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother”, naturally they are ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo”, and hearing Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” under the Plum Blossom Sect, so Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this linen-robed old man should all be under the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for more than ten years, two of the six disciples are in the capital, Tao Zhongwen has even joined the court, becoming the national teacher; while Liu Xing lives in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
It’s just unknown what changes have occurred in the Plum Blossom Sect. And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing’s words, has already passed away, presumably he is no longer here. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he pass away without a clear reason?
“I trust Second Brother’s eyesight,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he has seen it and couldn’t find it, it just shows that Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know after seeing him,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, Third Brother, don’t let that boy Mei Qing harm the harmony between brothers.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re actually being polite with me? Enough of the small talk, if you remember the brotherhood today, then leave quickly. If you insist on pestering, Liu will have to risk his life to accompany you!”
The linen-robed old man saw Liu Xing’s provocative words, but did not get angry. He made no movement, but suddenly flashed from the top of the pavilion to the bottom, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at Liu Xing for a while, and said in a deep voice, “Liu, I respect you and call you Third Brother, but only because you entered the sect earlier than me. In fact, when the master accepted you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were the weakest. Especially later, you secretly loved the younger sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation did not improve but regressed… If you want to fight with me, it’s not an exaggeration to say that within three quarters, you will die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but if you want me to surrender, forget it.” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging down on both sides of his body, his eyes fixed on the linen-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The linen-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then turned thoughtfully to the silent Master Bai, “What? Is Old Bai also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai still stood motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brothers’ matters.”
Then, he turned to look at the linen-robed old man and shook his head, “However, Mei’er is a girl I watched grow up. It’s not easy for the girl to grow up and find a suitable uncle, but you come here shouting and killing to take people away, that’s not very righteous.” His black eyes moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai’s faces, then suddenly laughed out loud, “Sure enough, sure enough. Well, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he turned to Liu Xing and said with a smile, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy day, can I trouble you for a cup of wine? I guess Third Brother won’t refuse, right?”
“The legs are on your own body, if I refuse, won’t you come?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Good, good,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Then we’ll meet again.” Then he turned to Master Bai and said, “Old Bai, when did you hook up with Third Brother? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
As he spoke, he laughed loudly, his figure suddenly twisted and thinned, a light shield formed around his body, gradually turning into a light mass like when he came, lightly retreated, and had already risen high above the grass pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the grass pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, he spat hatefully. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, today it’s all thanks to you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please log in to www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have faded, but with my temperament, I won’t shrink back from being a man.”
“That’s good, with the two of us teaming up, we might not fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, somewhat uncertainly, “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head with a sigh, “If it really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent, the moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, the sky was covered with dark clouds, making everything feel incredibly heavy.
“Forget it, I’ll go and call Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at Taishang Rock.” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better than being caught by the city people, which would be inappropriate.”
“Taishang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her, and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just consume Mei Qing in anger: “Although Mei’er has good potential, her cultivation is still short, she can’t protect Mei Qing. Where should we hide them?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you checked Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, including his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally, he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
After saying that, he shook his head again, “If you really want to hide him, nowhere is safe, except that place…”
“No, no.” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous? Besides, we agreed back then. We wouldn’t disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Taishang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way: “Then think slowly, I guess your second brother is hard to say, even the fourth brother, probably already on the road, how fortunate.” A hoarse voice suddenly sounded, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turned to the north, where a white light was flying from the dark, lightless sky. The light flew closer and closer, bigger and bigger, by the time it reached the mansion, it was already more than ten feet in size.
“They’ve really come,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
After saying that, he sneered at the light, “Fourth Master, why aren’t you enjoying your fortune in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for an answer, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, just talk among yourselves. Old Bai doesn’t want to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped on the grass pavilion, then the light burst out, almost blinding. After the light flashed, it dimmed down, and a thin figure appeared on top of the grass pavilion.
The old man was not tall, his hair and beard were sparse, neatly trimmed. His eyes under two short eyebrows flashed with black light, looking eerie, wearing only a linen robe, standing high on the grass pavilion, “Haha” laughed a few times, with a tone of arrogance, “Master Bai is right, you’d better not interfere in our brotherly affairs, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
After saying that, he suddenly turned his head, his eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “We haven’t seen each other for years, and the first thing you do is ask me for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the linen-robed old man chuckled, “It’s really a case of searching high and low, and finding it without any effort! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy named Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said with a normal expression, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is the man your niece is fond of, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check his family background and character? Do you even want to manage that?”
The linen-robed old man listened, then let out a series of hoarse laughs, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve traveled thousands of miles at night, I’ve naturally found out everything. The ancients said that the darkest place is under the lamp, Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, we really didn’t expect him to be hiding under our noses for so many years. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, even the great Master Dian could be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he let out a series of cold laughs. Mei Qing, who was listening nearby, was moved, suddenly remembering the voice of the linen-robed old man. Back in the ancestral hall of Yang Zui’s house, when he went to chase Yang Jin and finally grabbed the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone protector was exactly the same as the old man in front of him.
So this Mr. Liu was actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiwen Tao Zhongwen and the linen-robed old man known as “Fourth Brother”. Hearing the linen-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother”, naturally, they were ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo”, and heard Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect, so it seems that Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this linen-robed old man should all be from the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for more than ten years, two of the six disciples are in the capital, Tao Zhongwen has even joined the court, serving as the national teacher; while Liu Xing has been living in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
It’s just not clear what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect. And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing’s words, has already passed away, presumably he is no longer here. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he pass away without a trace?
“I trust Second Brother’s eyesight,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he couldn’t find anything, it just proves that Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know once we see him,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, Third Brother, don’t let Mei Qing cause discord between brothers.”
“Discord?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re actually being polite to me? Enough of the small talk, if you remember our brotherly bond today, then leave quickly. If you insist on pestering, Liu will have to risk his life to accompany you!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocative words, the linen-robed old man was not angered. Without any movement, he suddenly flashed from the top of the pavilion to the bottom, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at Liu Xing for a long time, and said in a deep voice, “Mr. Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but only because you entered the sect before me. In fact, when the master accepted you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were the weakest. Especially later, when you secretly admired the younger sister, and were heartbroken when she married, your cultivation not only didn’t improve but regressed… To say that you can fight me, without exaggeration, within three quarters, you would die at my hands.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but if you want me to surrender, forget it.” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging down on both sides of his body, his eyes fixed on the linen-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The linen-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then seemed to think of something and turned to the silent Master Bai, “What? Does Old Bai also want to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai still stood motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
After saying that, he turned to look at the linen-robed old man and shook his head, “However, Mei’er is a girl I watched grow up. It’s not easy for the girl to grow up and find a suitable uncle, but you come here shouting and killing to take people away, that’s not very righteous.” His eyes with black light moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai’s faces, then suddenly burst into laughter, “So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is. Well, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he turned to Liu Xing with a smile, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy day, can I trouble you for a cup of wine? I guess Third Brother won’t refuse, right?”
“The legs are on your own body, would you not come if I refuse?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Alright, alright,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “We’ll meet again.” Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, when did you hook up with Third Brother? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
After saying that, he laughed heartily, his body suddenly twisted and thinned, a light shield formed around his body, gradually turning into a light ball like when he came, lightly retreated, and had already risen high above the grass pavilion. Then like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the grass pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as calm as water, he spat with hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, thanks to you today.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please log in to www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have faded, but with my temperament, I won’t cower and hide.”
“That’s good, with the two of us working together, we might not fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the bitter end!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, somewhat uncertainly, “You don’t have to help with my matters, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it’s really her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making everything feel incredibly heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and wake Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing go to Wudang Mountain, to Taishang Rock to hide.” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better to avoid any inappropriate encounters with the people from the city.”
“Taishang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you didn’t marry her, and who you’ve been longing for all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just eat Mei Qing alive in anger. Although Mei’er has good potential, her cultivation is still too short to protect Mei Qing. Where else can they hide?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you checked Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, including his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
Then he shook his head and said, “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe, except perhaps that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous, isn’t it? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Taishang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then take your time to think. I guess your second senior brother won’t be easy to talk to, and as for the fourth, he’s probably already on his way.” A hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turned northward, where a bright white light was flying towards them from the dark, lightless sky. The light grew larger and larger as it approached, and by the time it reached the mansion, it was already over ten feet in size.
“They’ve indeed come,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
Then, he sneered at the light and said, “Fourth Master, instead of enjoying your fortune in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a response, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, go ahead and catch up. Old Bai doesn’t care to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then the light intensified, almost blinding. After the light flashed, it dimmed, revealing a thin figure standing on top of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, flashed with a dark light, looking eerie. He was dressed in a hemp robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughing arrogantly, “Master Bai is right, it’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly matters, to avoid any unpleasantness.”
Then, he suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, you come and ask me for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled, “It’s truly a case of ‘searching far and wide, only to find it effortlessly’! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy surnamed Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said calmly, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is someone your niece is fond of, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check the family background and character of the other party? Do you want to interfere in that too?”
The hemp-robed old man let out a series of hoarse laughs, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, naturally I’ve found out everything. The ancients said ‘the darkest place is under the lamp’, Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, never expecting he’s been hiding right under our noses for so long. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, even the great Master Dian could be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he continued to chuckle coldly. Mei Qing, who was listening nearby, suddenly remembered the voice of the hemp-robed old man. Back in the ancestral hall of the Yang family, when he was chasing Yang Jin and finally seizing the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone protector was exactly the same as this old man’s.
So this old man, Mr. Liu, was actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiren Tao Zhongwen and this hemp-robed old man referred to as “Fourth Brother”. Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother”, naturally they were ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo”, and hearing Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect, it seems that Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man should all be disciples of the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade, with two of its six disciples in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even serving the court as the national teacher; Liu Xing living in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts unknown.
But what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing’s words, has already passed away, presumably no longer with us. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he pass away without a clear reason?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he didn’t notice, it just proves Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know after seeing him,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, Third Brother, don’t let this boy ruin the harmony between brothers.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re being polite with me? Enough of the small talk, if you cherish our brotherhood, leave quickly. If you insist on causing trouble, I’ll have no choice but to risk my life to accompany you!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocative words, the hemp-robed old man was not angered. Without any movement, he suddenly appeared below the pavilion, hands behind his back, looking at Liu Xing for a long time before saying in a deep voice, “Mr. Liu, I call you Third Brother out of respect, but only because you joined the sect before me. In fact, when the master accepted you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you fell in love with our junior sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation regressed instead of advancing… To say you could fight me, without exaggeration, within three quarters, you would die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but don’t expect me to surrender without a fight,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The hemp-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then seemed to ponder something and turned to the silent Master Bai, “What? Is Old Bai also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai remained motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly matters.”
Then, he turned to the hemp-robed old man and shook his head, “However, Mei’er is a girl I’ve watched grow up. Finally, she’s grown up and found a suitable husband, but you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very honorable.” His black, shining eyes moved between Liu Xing and Master Bai’s faces several times, then suddenly burst into laughter, “So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is. Fine, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he turned to Liu Xing with a smile, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable groom, on this happy occasion, I must trouble you for a cup of wine, I hope Third Brother won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Fine, fine,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “We’ll meet again.” Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, when did you start colluding with Third Brother? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
With that, he laughed heartily, his figure suddenly becoming distorted and faint, a light shield forming around him, gradually turning into a light sphere like when he arrived, lightly retreating, and he was already high above the pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, he spat in hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, today I owe you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we must be careful.” (Please log in to www.qidian.com for more chapters)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have also faded, but with my nature, I won’t shrink back from being a man.”
“That’s good, with the two of us working together, we might not be afraid of them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn heartless, at most, it’s a fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in the matters between you brothers.”
Liu Xing turned to look at Master Bai, somewhat uncertainly, “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it’s really her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent, the moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, the sky was covered with dark clouds, making the world feel incredibly heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and call Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at the Tai Shang Rock.” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better than being caught by the people from the city, which would be inappropriate.”
“Tai Shang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you didn’t marry her, and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out that Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just eat Mei Qing alive. Mei’er, although talented, has only been cultivating for a short time and can’t protect Mei Qing. Where should we hide them?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you examined Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, including his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally, he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
After saying that, he shook his head again, “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe, except for that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous, right? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Tai Shang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then think slowly, I guess your second senior brother won’t be easy to talk to, as for the fourth, he’s probably already on his way.” A hoarse voice suddenly sounded, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turned to the north, where a white light was flying from a distance under the dark and lightless sky. The light flew closer and closer, larger and larger, and by the time it reached the mansion, it was already more than ten feet in size.
“He’s really here,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did he hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, he was still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
After saying that, he sneered at the light, “Fourth Master, why don’t you enjoy your blessings in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for an answer, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, go ahead and talk. Old Bai doesn’t want to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then the light burst out, almost blinding. After the light flashed, it dimmed down, and a thin figure appeared on top of the grass pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes under the short eyebrows flashed with black light, looking eerie. He was only wearing a linen robe, standing high on the grass pavilion, laughing a few times, with a hint of arrogance, “Master Bai is right, it’s best not to interfere in the matters between us brothers, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
After saying that, he suddenly turned his head, his eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, the first thing you do is ask me for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the linen-robed old man chuckled, “It’s really a case of searching high and low, and finding it without any effort! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy surnamed Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said with a normal expression, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is the person your niece is interested in, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check the other party’s family background and character? Do you even want to interfere in this?”
The linen-robed old man listened, then let out a series of hoarse laughter, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve traveled thousands of miles at night, naturally, I’ve found out everything. The ancients said that the darkest place is under the lamp, Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, we really didn’t expect him to be hiding under our noses for so many years. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy, and we didn’t notice! Haha, I didn’t expect that even the dignified Master Dian would be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he let out a series of cold laughter. Mei Qing, who was listening, felt a stir in his heart, suddenly remembering the voice of the linen-robed old man. At that time, in the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he went to chase Yang Jin and finally grabbed the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone protector was exactly the same as the old man in front of him.
It turns out that this old man surnamed Liu is actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiwen Tao Zhongwen and the linen-robed old man known as “Fourth Brother”. Hearing the linen-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother”, naturally, they are ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo”, and heard Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” under the Plum Blossom Sect. If so, then Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this linen-robed old man should all be under the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for more than ten years, it turns out that among the six disciples, two are in the capital, Tao Zhongwen has even joined the court, becoming the national teacher; while Liu Xing has been living in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
It’s just that I don’t know what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect. And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing, has already passed away, presumably he is no longer here. But Fan Wentai is said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he pass away without a clear reason?
“I trust Second Brother’s eyesight,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he has seen it and still didn’t notice, it just shows that Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know after we see him,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, Third Brother, don’t let that boy Mei Qing harm the harmony between brothers.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re actually being polite to me? Enough of the idle talk, if you remember the brotherhood today, then leave quickly. If you insist on pestering, Liu will have to risk his life to accompany you!”
The linen-robed old man saw Liu Xing’s provocative words, but he didn’t get angry. He made no movement at all, suddenly flashed from the top of the pavilion to the bottom, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at Liu Xing for a long time, and said in a deep voice, “Surnamed Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but it’s only because you entered the sect earlier than me. In fact, when the master accepted you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were the weakest. Especially later, when you secretly loved the little junior sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation not only didn’t improve but regressed… If you say you want to fight me, it’s not an exaggeration to say that within three quarters, you will die at my hands.”
“If you have the ability, then take my life, but if you want me to surrender, forget it.” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging on both sides of his body, his eyes fixed on the linen-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The linen-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then suddenly seemed to think of something and turned to the silent Master Bai, “What? Old Bai, are you also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai still stood there motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in the matters between you brothers.”
After saying that, he turned to look at the linen-robed old man and shook his head, “However, Mei’er is a girl I’ve watched grow up. It’s not easy for the girl to grow up and find a suitable uncle, but you come here shouting and killing to take people away, that’s not very righteous.” His black eyes moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai’s faces, then suddenly laughed out loud, “So that’s it, so that’s it. Well, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
After saying that, he smiled at Liu Xing again, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy day, can I ask for a cup of wine? I think Third Brother won’t refuse, right?”
“The legs are on your own body, if I refuse, won’t you come?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Good, good,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Then we’ll meet again.” He turned to Master Bai again, “Old Bai, when did you and Third Brother get together? If it’s about that year… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
After saying that, he laughed loudly, his body suddenly twisted and thinned, a light shield formed around his body, gradually turning into a light ball like when he came, lightly retreated, and had already risen high above the grass pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoed under the grass pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as calm as water, he spat with hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, today it’s all thanks to you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please log in to www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai’s voice was cold. “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have faded, but with my temperament, I won’t shrink back from life.”
“That’s good. If we join forces, we might not fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth. “If they really turn heartless, we’ll fight to the bitter end!”
“I won’t risk my life with them,” Master Bai snorted. “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, uncertain. “You might not help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head with a sigh. “If it’s really her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making everything feel overwhelmingly heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go wake Mei’er now and have her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at Taishang Rock,” Liu Xing sighed. “It’s better than being caught by someone from the city, which would be inappropriate.”
“Taishang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery. “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just consume Mei Qing in anger. Mei’er, though talented, has only been cultivating for a short time and can’t protect Mei Qing. Where else can they hide?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you examined Mei Qing? I mean, does he show any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Liu Xing laughed. “You know his physique. He can’t cultivate. I’ve checked, and neither he nor his companion show any signs of cultivation.”
Master Bai sighed. “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
He shook his head again. “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe, except perhaps that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head. “Too dangerous? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Taishang Rock isn’t feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then think slowly. I suspect your second brother won’t be easy to deal with, and the fourth brother is probably already on his way,” a hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turning northward. In the dark, lightless sky, a white, glowing mass was flying towards them. The mass grew larger and larger as it approached, reaching the size of a zhang by the time it arrived in front of the mansion.
“They’ve come,” Liu Xing said with hatred. “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head. “No, they were still far away, just bluffing.”
He then sneered at the glowing mass. “Fourth Master, why not enjoy your fortune in the capital and come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a response, Master Bai snorted again. “You brothers haven’t seen each other in years, catch up. I won’t bother with you.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then burst into a blinding brightness before dimming again, revealing a thin, elderly man standing on top of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, flashed with a dark light, looking eerie. He wore only a hemp robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughing arrogantly. “Master Bai is right, it’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly affairs, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
He suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Liu Xing. “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered. “After so many years, you come asking for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, that’s not interesting,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled. “It’s like finding something without even looking! I wondered why you sent someone to investigate that boy named Mei Qing from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about that,” Liu Xing said calmly. “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is someone your niece fancies. Before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check his family background and character? Do you want to interfere in that too?”
The hemp-robed old man let out a series of hoarse laughs. “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way, I’ve naturally found out everything. The ancients said the darkest place is under the lamp. Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, never expecting he’s been right under our noses for so long. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy before and didn’t realize it! Haha, who would have thought, even the great Master Dian could be mistaken!”
He continued to laugh coldly. Mei Qing, listening nearby, suddenly remembered the voice of the hemp-robed old man. It was the same voice that had possessed the stone guardian at the Yang family’s ancestral hall when he was chasing Yang Jin and trying to seize the Seven Star Inkstone.
So this Mr. Liu was actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiren Tao Zhongwen and this “Fourth Brother” hemp-robed old man. Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” it was clear they were ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo” and hearing Lu Bing say his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect. If so, then Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man should all be from the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect had been silent for over a decade. Among the six disciples, two were in the capital, with Tao Zhongwen serving the court as the National Teacher; Liu Xing lived in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts were unknown.
But what had happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing, had already passed away, presumably no longer alive. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he have died without a clear reason?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered. “Since he couldn’t find anything, it just proves Mei Qing isn’t the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know after seeing him,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely. “Third Brother, please don’t let this boy Mei Qing come between our brotherly harmony.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed. “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re being polite with me? Enough talk, if you value our brotherhood, leave now. If you insist on causing trouble, I’ll have to risk my life to accompany you!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocation, the hemp-robed old man didn’t get angry. Without any movement, he suddenly appeared below the pavilion, hands behind his back, looking at Liu Xing for a long time before saying in a deep voice, “Mr. Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but only because you entered the sect before me. In fact, when Master took you as a disciple, it was only for that place. As for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you fell for our junior sister and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation regressed instead of advancing… To say you could fight me, without exaggeration, within three quarters, you’d be dead by my hands.”
“If you have the ability, take my life. But don’t think I’ll surrender without a fight,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The hemp-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then seemed to think of something and turned to the silent Master Bai. “What? Is Old Bai also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai remained motionless, his eyes half-closed. “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
He turned to look at the hemp-robed old man and shook his head. “However, Mei’er is a girl I’ve watched grow up. Finally, she’s found a suitable husband, and you come here wanting to take him away by force, that’s not very honorable.”
His dark, shining eyes moved between Liu Xing and Master Bai several times, then he suddenly burst into laughter. “So that’s it, so that’s it. Fine, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
He then smiled at Liu Xing. “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable groom, on this happy occasion, I’d like to ask for a cup of wine. Surely Third Brother won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would my refusal stop you from coming?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Fine, fine,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely. “We’ll meet again.” He then turned to Master Bai. “Old Bai, when did you and Third Brother get so close? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
With that, he laughed heartily, his figure suddenly becoming distorted and faint, a light shield forming around him, gradually turning into the same glowing mass as before, and with a light leap, he rose high above the grass pavilion. Like a shooting star, he flew into the distance, his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, and he spat in hatred. Turning to Master Bai, he said, “Old Bai, today I owe you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head. “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my ambitions have faded, but given my nature, I won’t hide away.”
“That’s good. If we join forces, we might not fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth, “If they really turn heartless, we’ll fight to the end!”
“I won’t risk my life with them,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, uncertain, “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, then sighed, “If he’s truly her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making everything feel overwhelmingly heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and wake Mei’er, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at Taishang Rock,” Liu Xing sighed, “To avoid any mishaps with the city folks.”
“Taishang Rock? Your old lover’s cultivation place? You know her abilities, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you didn’t marry her and who you’ve been longing for all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might harm Mei Qing. Mei’er, though talented, hasn’t cultivated long enough to protect Mei Qing. Where can they hide?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you checked Mei Qing? I mean, does he show any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. He can’t cultivate. I’ve checked, including his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
He shook his head again, “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe, except that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous? Besides, we agreed years ago not to disturb Wu Duo again. If you think Taishang Rock isn’t feasible, I’ll find another way.”
“Then think slowly. I guess your second brother won’t be easy to convince, and the fourth brother is probably already on his way,” a hoarse voice suddenly echoed under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were startled, both looking north. In the dark, a white light was flying towards them, growing larger and larger, until it was about ten feet in size when it reached the mansion.
“They’re here,” Liu Xing said bitterly, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away, just bluffing.”
Then, he sneered at the light, “Fourth Master, why leave the comfort of the capital to return to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a reply, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other in years, catch up. I won’t bother with you.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then burst into a blinding light. When it dimmed, a thin figure appeared on the pavilion roof.
The old man was short, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short brows, flashed with black light, looking eerie. He wore a hemp robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughing arrogantly, “Master Bai is right, you’d better not interfere in our brotherly affairs, to avoid trouble.”
He suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, you come asking for someone? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, this is no fun,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled, “It’s strange, why did you send someone to investigate that Mei Qing boy from afar? Ha, now I see!”
“If you’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said calmly, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is your niece’s beloved, I had to check his background before marrying my daughter. Do you want to interfere in that too?”
The hemp-robed old man laughed hoarsely, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I came all this way, I’ve found out everything. They say the darkest place is under the lamp, Second Brother and I have searched everywhere, never thought he’s been right under our noses all these years. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy, and didn’t recognize him! Ha, even the great Master Dian can be wrong!”
He laughed coldly. Mei Qing, listening, suddenly remembered the voice. It was the same voice that possessed the stone protector when he chased Yang Jin and fought for the Seven Star Inkstone at Yang Zui’s family shrine.
So, this Mr. Liu is actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiren Tao Zhongwen and this hemp-robed old man called “Fourth Brother.” Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” they must be ranked second and third.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo.” He also heard Lu Bing say his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect. So, Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man should all be from the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade. Among the six disciples, two are in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even serves the court as the National Preceptor; Liu Xing lives in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
But what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? The Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing, has already passed away, presumably no longer alive. But Fan Wentai was said to have extraordinary cultivation, how could he die so mysteriously?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he didn’t find anything, it proves Mei Qing isn’t the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll see,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “Third Brother, please don’t let Mei Qing harm our brotherly bond.”
“Brotherly bond?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been brotherly? Today you’re being polite with me? Enough talk, if you value our brotherhood, leave now. If you insist on causing trouble, I’ll have to fight you!”
The hemp-robed old man, provoked by Liu Xing, didn’t get angry. Without moving, he suddenly appeared below the pavilion, hands behind his back, looking at Liu Xing for a while, then said seriously, “Mr. Liu, I call you Third Brother out of respect because you joined earlier. But Master only took you in for that place, as for your cultivation… heh, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you fell for our junior sister, and were heartbroken when she married, your cultivation regressed… If we fight, without exaggeration, you’d be dead in three quarters of an hour.”
“Take my life if you can, but don’t expect me to surrender,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“Strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The hemp-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then turned thoughtfully to the silent Master Bai, “What? Is Old Bai also going to make trouble for me?”
Master Bai stood still, eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
He turned to the hemp-robed old man, shaking his head, “But, I watched Mei’er grow up. Finally, she found a suitable husband, and you come here to take him away by force, that’s not very honorable.”
His black eyes moved between Liu Xing and Master Bai, then he burst into laughter, “So that’s it, so that’s it. Fine, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go today.”
He then smiled at Liu Xing, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable groom, on this happy occasion, I’d like to ask for a cup of wine, surely you won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Fine,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “We’ll meet again.” He turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, when did you and Third Brother get so close? If it’s about the past… heh, not wise, not wise!”
He laughed loudly, his body suddenly twisting and thinning, a light enveloping him, gradually turning into a light sphere like when he came, and he floated up above the grass pavilion. Then, like a shooting star, he flew into the distance, his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, he spat in disgust. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, thanks to you today.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my ambitions have faded, but with my nature, I won’t cower and hide.”
“That’s good, with the two of us working together, we might not have to fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the end!”
“I won’t risk my life with them,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, somewhat uncertain, “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head with a sigh, “If it really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent, the moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, the sky was covered with dark clouds, making everything feel overwhelmingly heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and call Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at the Taishang Rock.” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better to avoid any awkward encounters with the city folks.”
“Taishang Rock? That old flame of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you didn’t marry her, and who you’ve been longing for all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just devour Mei Qing in anger. Mei’er, although talented, has only been cultivating for a short time and can’t protect Mei Qing. Where should we hide them?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you examined Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. He can’t cultivate. I’ve checked, and so has his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally, he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
Then he shook his head, “If you really want to hide him, nowhere is safe, except for that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous? Besides, we agreed years ago not to disturb Wu Duo again. If you think Taishang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then take your time to think, I guess your second brother is hard to persuade, and the fourth brother is probably already on his way. How fortunate.” A hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, stirring the thick thatch on the roof, causing dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turned to the north, where a bright white light was flying towards them from the dark, lightless sky. The light grew larger as it approached, reaching the size of a man when it arrived in front of the mansion.
“They’ve indeed come,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away, just bluffing.”
Then, he sneered at the light, “Fourth Master, instead of enjoying your fortune in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a reply, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, go ahead and catch up. Old Bai doesn’t care, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then burst into a blinding light. After the light faded, a thin figure appeared on the roof of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, flashed with a dark light, looking eerie. He wore a hemp robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughed a few times, arrogantly saying, “Master Bai is right, it’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly matters, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
Then, he suddenly turned, his eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing, “Third brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, you come and ask me for a person? What boy, what are you talking about?”
“Third brother, this is not interesting,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled, “It’s like finding something without any effort! I was wondering why you went to such lengths to investigate that boy named Mei, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said calmly, “Fourth brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is someone your niece fancies, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check his family background and character? Do you want to interfere in that too?”
The hemp-robed old man let out a series of hoarse laughs, “Third brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, I’ve naturally found out everything. The ancients said the darkest place is under the lamp, my second brother and I have been searching hard all these years, never thought he’s been right under our noses for so long. You might not believe it, but my second brother and I have both met this boy, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, even the great Master Dian could be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he let out several cold laughs. Mei Qing, who was listening, felt a stir in his heart, suddenly remembering the voice of the hemp-robed old man. Back in the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he went after Yang Jin and fought for the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone guardian was exactly the same as the old man before him.
So this Mr. Liu was actually a fellow disciple with Master Dian Zhiren Tao Zhongwen, and this hemp-robed old man known as “Fourth brother”. Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “second brother” and Liu Xing “third brother”, naturally, they were ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo”, and hearing Lu Bing say his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” under the Plum Blossom Sect, it seems that Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man should all be under the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade, with two of its six members in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even serving the court as the national teacher; Liu Xing living in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts unknown.
Just what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing, has already passed away, presumably no longer with us. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he pass away without a trace?
“I trust second brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he couldn’t find anything, it just proves Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know once we see him,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, third brother, don’t let this boy ruin our brotherly harmony.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re being polite with me? Enough with the small talk, if you cherish our brotherly bond, leave now. If you insist on causing trouble, I’ll have no choice but to fight to the death!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocation, the hemp-robed old man was not angered. Without any movement, he suddenly appeared below the pavilion, hands behind his back, looking at Liu Xing for a long time, then said in a deep voice, “Mr. Liu, I call you third brother out of respect, but only because you entered the sect before me. In fact, when our master took you in, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… heh, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you secretly admired our little sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation not only didn’t improve but regressed… To say you could fight me, without exaggeration, within three quarters, you’d be dead by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but don’t expect me to surrender without a fight,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“How strange, third brother is so tough today?” The hemp-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then turned thoughtfully to the silent Master Bai, “What? Is old Bai also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai remained motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly matters.”
Then, he turned to the hemp-robed old man and shook his head, “However, Mei’er is a girl I watched grow up. Finally, she’s grown up and found a suitable husband, and you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very honorable.” His eyes, flashing with black light, moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai, then suddenly burst into laughter, “So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is. Well, since even old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he turned to Liu Xing with a smile, “Third brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy occasion, I’d like to ask for a cup of wine, surely third brother won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Alright, alright,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “We’ll meet again.” Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, when did you and third brother get so close? If you think about the past… heh, not wise, not wise at all!”
With that, he laughed heartily, his figure suddenly becoming distorted and faint, a light shield forming around him, gradually turning into the same light sphere as when he arrived, and with a light leap, he rose high above the grass pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, he spat in hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, today it’s all thanks to you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have all faded, but with my nature, I won’t shrink back from living my life.”
“That’s good, with the two of us working together, we might not be afraid of them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in your brotherly matters.”
Liu Xing turned to look at Master Bai, somewhat uncertainly, “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent, the moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, the sky was covered with dark clouds, making everything feel incredibly heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go now and call Mei’er, let her and Mei Qing go to Wudang Mountain, to the Tai Shang Rock to hide.” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better to avoid any inappropriate encounters with the city people.”
“Tai Shang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you didn’t marry her, and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just eat Mei Qing alive.”
“Mei’er, although talented, has only been cultivating for a short time, she can’t protect Mei Qing. But where can we hide them both?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you ever checked Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could that be?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, including his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally, he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
After saying that, he shook his head again, “If you really want to hide him, nowhere is safe, except for that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Tai Shang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then you think slowly, I guess your second brother is not easy to talk to, even the fourth brother is probably already on the way.” A hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, they both looked to the north, under the dark and lightless sky, a white light was flying from afar. The light flew closer and closer, bigger and bigger, by the time it reached the mansion, it was already more than ten feet in size.
“They really came,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, he was still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
After saying that, he sneered at the light, “Fourth Master, instead of enjoying your fortune in the capital, why did you come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for an answer, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, you can catch up. Old Bai doesn’t want to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped on the grass pavilion, then the light burst out, almost blinding. After the light flashed, it dimmed down, and a thin figure appeared on top of the grass pavilion.
The old man was not tall, his hair and beard were sparse, neatly trimmed. His two eyes under short eyebrows flashed with black light, looking eerie, wearing only a linen robe, standing high on the grass pavilion, he laughed a few times, arrogantly saying, “Master Bai is right, it’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly matters, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
After saying that, he suddenly turned his head, his two eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing, “Third brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth brother, when did you change your profession to human trafficking?” Liu Xing sneered, “After not seeing each other for so many years, the first thing you do is ask me for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third brother, this is not interesting,” the linen-robed old man chuckled, “It’s really a case of searching high and low without finding, yet it comes without effort! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy surnamed Mei from afar, haha, so that’s why!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said with a normal expression, “Fourth brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is your niece’s beloved, before I marry my daughter, shouldn’t I check the other party’s family background and character? Do you even want to interfere in this?”
The linen-robed old man listened, then let out a series of hoarse laughter, “Third brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve traveled thousands of miles at night, naturally, I’ve found out everything. The ancients said the darkest place is under the lamp, my second brother and I have been searching hard all these years, we never thought he’s been hiding under our noses for so many years. You might not believe it, but my second brother and I have both met this boy, yet we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, the dignified Master Dian would also be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he let out a series of cold laughter. Mei Qing, who was listening nearby, was moved, suddenly remembering the voice of the linen-robed old man. At that time in the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he went to chase Yang Jin and finally grabbed the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone protector was exactly the same as the old man in front of him.
It turns out that this Mr. Liu is actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhi Ren Tao Zhongwen and the linen-robed old man known as “Fourth Brother”. Hearing the linen-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother”, naturally, they are ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo”, and hearing Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” under the Plum Blossom Sect, so it seems that Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this linen-robed old man should all be under the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for more than ten years, among the six disciples, two are in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even joined the court, becoming the national teacher; while Liu Xing lives in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
It’s just that I don’t know what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect. And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing, has already passed away, presumably he is no longer here. But Fan Wentai is said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he pass away without a trace?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he didn’t notice after seeing him, it just proves that Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know after seeing him,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, Third Brother, don’t let that boy Mei Qing damage our brotherly harmony.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re actually being polite to me? Enough of the idle talk, if you remember our brotherly bond today, then leave quickly. If you insist on being entangled, Liu will have to risk his life to accompany you!”
The linen-robed old man saw Liu Xing’s provocative words, but he didn’t get angry. Without any movement, he suddenly flashed from the top of the pavilion to the bottom, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at Liu Xing for a while, then said in a deep voice, “Mr. Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but only because you entered the sect earlier than me. In fact, when the master accepted you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were the weakest. Especially later when you secretly loved the younger sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation didn’t improve but regressed… If you say you want to fight me, it’s not an exaggeration to say that within three quarters, you will die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, then take my life, but if you want me to surrender, forget it.” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging down on both sides of his body, his eyes fixed on the linen-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The linen-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then suddenly seemed to think of something and turned to the silent Master Bai, “What? Old Bai, are you also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai still stood motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly matters.”
Then he turned to look at the linen-robed old man and shook his head, “However, I watched Mei’er grow up. It’s not easy for the girl to grow up and find a suitable husband, but you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very righteous.”
A pair of eyes flashing with black light moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai’s faces, then suddenly burst into laughter, “So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is. Well, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he turned to Liu Xing and said with a smile, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy day, can I bother you for a cup of wine? I guess Third Brother won’t refuse, right?”
“Your legs are on your own body, would you not come if I refuse?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Good, good,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Then we’ll meet again.” Then he turned to Master Bai and said, “Old Bai, when did you and Old Third hook up? If it’s about that year… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
As he spoke, he laughed heartily, his body suddenly became distorted and thin, a light shield formed around his body, gradually becoming the same light group as when he came, he lightly retreated, already high above the grass pavilion. Then like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the grass pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as calm as water, he spat with hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, today it’s all thanks to you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please log in to www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have faded, but with my temperament, I’m not the type to hide and cower.”
“That’s good, with the two of us working together, we might not be afraid of them!” Liu Xing said through gritted teeth, “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in your brotherly matters.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, somewhat uncertain, “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, and the dark clouds covered the sky, making everything feel incredibly heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and call Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at Taishang Rock,” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better than being caught by the city people, which would be inappropriate.”
“Taishang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her, and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just eat him alive.”
“Mei’er, although talented, has only been cultivating for a short time and can’t protect Mei Qing. Where can we hide them both?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you checked Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Liu Xing laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, including his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
Then he shook his head again, “If you really want to hide him, nowhere is safe, except for that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Taishang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then think slowly. I guess your second brother won’t be easy to deal with, and the fourth brother is probably already on his way,” a hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turning to the north, where a white light was flying towards them from the dark, lightless sky. The light grew larger and larger as it approached, and by the time it reached the mansion, it was already over ten feet in size.
“They’re here,” Liu Xing said bitterly, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away, just bluffing.”
Then, he sneered at the light, “Fourth Master, why aren’t you enjoying your fortune in the capital, but came back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for an answer, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, go ahead and catch up. Old Bai doesn’t want to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then the light intensified, almost blinding. After the light dimmed, a thin figure appeared on top of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, shone with a black light, looking eerie. He was dressed in a hemp robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughing a few times, arrogantly saying, “Master Bai is right, it’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly matters, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
Then, he suddenly turned his head, his eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, you come and ask me for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled, “It’s really ‘searching high and low, and finding it effortlessly’! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy surnamed Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said calmly, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is your niece’s beloved, before I marry my daughter, shouldn’t I check his family background and character? Do you want to interfere with that too?”
The hemp-robed old man listened, then let out a series of hoarse laughs, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I came all the way here at night, naturally I’ve investigated everything clearly. The ancients said ‘the darkest place is under the lamp,’ Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, never expecting he’s been right under our noses for so many years. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy before, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, even the great Master Dian could be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he continued to sneer. Mei Qing, listening nearby, felt a stir in his heart, suddenly remembering the voice of the hemp-robed old man. Back in the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he went after Yang Jin and fought for the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone protector was exactly the same as this old man’s.
So this Mr. Liu was actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiren Tao Zhongwen and this hemp-robed old man called “Fourth Brother.” Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” naturally they were ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo,” and hearing Lu Bing say his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect, it seems Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man should all be from the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade, with two of its six members in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even serving the court as the National Teacher; Liu Xing living in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts unknown.
But what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing, has already passed away, presumably no longer alive. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he die without a clear reason?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he didn’t notice, it just proves Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know when we see him,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “Third Brother, please don’t let this boy ruin our brotherly harmony.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re being polite to me? Enough talk, if you remember our brotherly bond, leave quickly. If you insist on causing trouble, I’ll have to risk my life to accompany you!”
The hemp-robed old man, seeing Liu Xing’s provocation, did not get angry. Without any movement, he suddenly appeared below the pavilion, standing with his hands behind his back, looking at Liu Xing for a long time, then said in a deep voice, “Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but only because you entered the sect before me. In fact, Master only took you as a disciple for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you secretly loved our junior sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation regressed instead of advancing… To fight me, not to exaggerate, within three quarters, you’d be dead by my hands.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but don’t expect me to surrender without a fight,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” the hemp-robed old man said with a playful smile, glancing at Liu Xing, then thoughtfully turned to the silent Master Bai, “What? Is Old Bai also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai still stood motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly matters.”
Then, he turned to the hemp-robed old man and shook his head, “However, Mei’er is a girl I watched grow up. Finally, she’s grown up and found a suitable husband, but you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very righteous.”
His black-glowing eyes moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai’s faces, then suddenly burst into laughter, “So that’s it, so that’s it. Fine, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he smiled at Liu Xing, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy occasion, I’d like to ask for a cup of wine, I hope Third Brother won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Fine, fine,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “We’ll meet again.” Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, when did you and Third Brother get so close? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
As he spoke, he laughed loudly, his body suddenly becoming distorted and faint, a light shield forming around him, gradually turning into the same light sphere as when he arrived, lightly retreating, already high above the grass pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, he spat in disgust. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, thanks to you today.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have all faded, but with my temperament, I’m not the type to hide my head and live in fear.”
“That’s good. With the two of us working together, we might not have to fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn heartless, at worst, it’s a fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in the matters between you brothers.”
Liu Xing turned to look at Master Bai, somewhat uncertainly, “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making the atmosphere unbearably heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go now and call Mei’er, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at the Tai Shang Rock,” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better to avoid any inappropriate encounters with the people from the city.”
“Tai Shang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you didn’t marry her, and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out that Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just eat Mei Qing alive.”
“Mei’er has good potential, but her cultivation is still shallow, she can’t protect Mei Qing. But where else can they hide?” Liu Xing asked angrily.
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you examined Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, and even his companion shows no signs of cultivation.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally, he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
After saying that, he shook his head again, “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe, except perhaps that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous, right? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Tai Shang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then think slowly. I guess your second brother won’t be easy to talk to, and your fourth brother is probably already on his way,” a hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turning northward, where a white light was flying towards them in the dark, lightless sky. The light grew larger and larger as it approached, and by the time it reached the mansion, it was already over ten feet in size.
“They’ve really come,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
After saying that, he sneered at the light, “Fourth Master, instead of enjoying your fortune in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a response, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other in years, catch up on your own. Old Bai doesn’t want to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then the light burst forth, almost blinding. As the light faded, a thin figure appeared on top of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, flashed with black light, looking eerie. He was dressed in a hemp robe, standing high on the pavilion, and laughed arrogantly, “Master Bai is right, it’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly matters, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
After saying that, he suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you change your profession to human trafficking?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, the first thing you do is ask me for a person? What boy, what are you talking about?”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled, “It’s really a case of ‘searching far and wide with no success, yet finding it effortlessly’! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy named Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said with a calm expression, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is someone your niece is fond of, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check the family background and character of the other party? Do you even want to interfere in this?”
The hemp-robed old man let out a series of hoarse laughs, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, naturally, I’ve investigated everything clearly. The ancients said ‘the darkest place is under the lamp,’ and Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, never expecting he’s been right under our noses for so long. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, even the great Master Dian could be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he let out several cold laughs. Mei Qing, who was listening nearby, suddenly remembered the voice of the hemp-robed old man. Back in the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he was chasing Yang Jin and trying to seize the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone guardian was exactly the same as this old man’s.
So, this Mr. Liu is actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiwen Tao Zhongwen and this hemp-robed old man referred to as “Fourth Brother.” Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” naturally, they are ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo,” and hearing Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect, it seems that Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man are all from the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade, with two of its members in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even serving the court as the National Preceptor; Liu Xing living in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts unknown.
It’s just unclear what changes have occurred within the Plum Blossom Sect. As for the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing, he has already passed away, presumably no longer with us. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he pass away without a clear reason?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he couldn’t find anything, it just proves that Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know once we see him,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “Third Brother, please don’t let that boy Mei Qing come between our brotherly harmony.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re speaking politely to me? Enough with the small talk, if you remember our brotherly bond today, leave quickly. If you insist on causing trouble, Liu will have to risk his life to keep you company!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocation, the hemp-robed old man did not get angry. Without any movement, he suddenly flashed from the top of the pavilion to the ground below, and after looking at Liu Xing for a while, he said in a deep voice, “Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but only because you entered the sect before me. In fact, when the master took you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you fell in love with the junior sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation regressed instead of advancing… To say you could fight me, without exaggeration, within three quarters, you would die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but if you think I’ll surrender without a fight, forget it,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging down on both sides of his body, his eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“How strange, Third Brother, why are you so tough today?” The hemp-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then suddenly turned thoughtfully to the silent Master Bai, “What? Old Bai, are you also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai remained motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly matters.”
Then, he turned to the hemp-robed old man and shook his head, “However, I’ve watched Mei’er grow up. It’s not easy for the girl to grow up and find a suitable husband, but you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very righteous.”
His black eyes flickered back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai, then he suddenly burst into laughter, “So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is. Well, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he turned to Liu Xing with a smile, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy occasion, I must trouble you for a cup of wine, I hope Third Brother won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Good, good,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “Then we’ll meet again.” He then turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, when did you and Third Brother get so close? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
With that, he laughed heartily, his figure suddenly becoming distorted and faint, a light shield forming around him, gradually turning into the same light sphere as when he arrived, and with a light leap, he rose high above the grass pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he shot into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, and he spat with hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, today it’s all thanks to you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.”
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my ambitions have faded, but given my nature, I won’t cower and hide.”
“That’s good, with the two of us working together, we might not have to fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn ruthless, we might as well fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, somewhat uncertainly, “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, and the dark clouds covered the sky, making the atmosphere unbearably heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and wake Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at the Tai Shang Rock,” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better to avoid any untoward encounters with the people from the city.”
“Tai Shang Rock? That place where your old flame cultivates? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her, and who you’ve been pining for all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just consume Mei Qing in anger. Although Mei’er has good potential, her cultivation is still shallow, she can’t protect Mei Qing. So where should they hide?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you ever checked Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could that be?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, including his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
Then he shook his head and said, “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe, except perhaps that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Tai Shang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then take your time to think. I guess your second brother is hard to convince, and the fourth brother is probably already on his way,” a hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turned northward, where a white light was flying towards them from the dark, lightless sky. The light grew larger and larger as it approached, and by the time it reached the mansion, it was already several meters in size.
“They’ve indeed come,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away, it’s just a bluff.”
Then, he sneered at the light and said, “Why isn’t Fourth Master enjoying his fortune in the capital, but running back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a response, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, go ahead and catch up. Old Bai can’t be bothered with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then the light burst forth, almost blinding. After the light faded, a thin figure appeared on top of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, flashed with a dark light, looking eerie. He was dressed in a hemp robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughing arrogantly, “Master Bai is right, it’s best not to interfere in our brotherly affairs, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
Then, he suddenly turned his head, his eyes fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that kid?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, the first thing you do is ask me for a person? What kid, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled, “It’s like the saying, ‘After searching high and low, you find it without any effort!’ I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that Mei kid from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said with a calm face, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is someone your niece is fond of, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check the family background and character of the other party? Do you even want to interfere in this?”
The hemp-robed old man laughed hoarsely, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, naturally I’ve found out everything. The ancients said, ‘The darkest place is under the lamp,’ and Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, never expecting him to be hiding right under our noses for so many years. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this kid, and we didn’t recognize him! Haha, who would have thought that even the great Master Dian could be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he continued to laugh coldly. Mei Qing, who was listening nearby, suddenly remembered the voice of the hemp-robed old man. At the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he went to chase Yang Jin and finally seized the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone guardian was exactly the same as the old man before him.
It turned out that this Mr. Liu was actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiwen Tao Zhongwen and the hemp-robed old man referred to as “Fourth Brother.” Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” naturally they were ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo,” and hearing Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect, it seemed that Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man should all be members of the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade, with two of its members in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even serving the court as the National Master; while Liu Xing lived in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts were unknown.
It’s just unclear what changes have occurred within the Plum Blossom Sect. And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing’s words, has already passed away, presumably no longer alive. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he have died without a trace?
“Second Brother’s discernment is something I trust,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he couldn’t find anything, it just proves that Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know once we see him,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, Third Brother, don’t let this harm our brotherly relationship.”
“Brotherly relationship?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been amiable with anyone? Today you’re being polite with me? Enough of the small talk, if you cherish our brotherhood, leave quickly. If you insist on making trouble, Liu will have to risk his life to accompany you!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocation, the hemp-robed old man did not get angry. Without any movement, he suddenly appeared below the pavilion, hands behind his back, looking at Liu Xing for a long time before saying in a deep voice, “Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but only because you entered the sect before me. In fact, when Master took you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you secretly admired our junior sister, and were heartbroken when she married, your cultivation not only didn’t improve but regressed… To say you could fight me, without exaggeration, within three quarters, you would die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but don’t expect me to surrender without a fight,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“How strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The hemp-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then seemed to think of something and turned to the silent Master Bai, “What? Is Old Bai also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai remained motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Then, he turned to the hemp-robed old man and shook his head, “However, Mei’er is a girl I watched grow up. Finally, the girl has grown up and found a suitable husband, but you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very honorable.” His dark eyes moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai’s faces several times, then suddenly burst into laughter, “So that’s it, so that’s it. Well, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he turned to Liu Xing with a smile, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy occasion, I must trouble you for a cup of wine, I hope Third Brother won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Alright, alright,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “We’ll meet again.” Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, when did you and Third Brother get together? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
As he spoke, he laughed heartily, his figure suddenly becoming distorted and faint, a light shield forming around him, gradually turning into the same light sphere as when he arrived, and with a light retreat, he rose high above the pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, he spat with hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, I owe you today.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” said Bai Ye with a cold voice, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have faded, but with my temperament, I’m not the type to hide away.”
“That’s good, with the two of us working together, we might not be afraid of them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth and said, “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Bai Ye snorted, “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Bai Ye, somewhat uncertainly, “You don’t have to help with my matters, but won’t you save her son?”
Bai Ye fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent, the moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, the sky was covered with dark clouds, making the atmosphere extremely heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and wake Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at the Tai Shang Rock.” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better to avoid any inappropriate encounters with the city people.”
“Tai Shang Rock? That old lover’s cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Bai Ye’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her, and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, wouldn’t she be furious? Mei’er, although talented, has only been cultivating for a short time and can’t protect Mei Qing. Where should we hide them?”
Bai Ye remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you examined Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Liu Ye laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, including his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Bai Ye sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally, he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
After saying that, he shook his head again, “If you really want to hide him, nowhere is safe, except that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous, right? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Tai Shang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then take your time to think, I guess your second brother is hard to say, even the fourth brother is probably already on his way.” A hoarse voice suddenly sounded, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Bai Ye were both startled, they both looked to the north, where a white light was flying from a distance in the dark, lightless sky. The light flew closer and closer, bigger and bigger, by the time it reached the mansion, it was already over ten feet in size.
“They’ve really come,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Bai Ye shook his head, “No, they were still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
After saying that, he sneered at the light, “Fourth brother, why not enjoy your fortune in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a reply, Bai Ye snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, go ahead and talk. Old Bai doesn’t want to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped on the grass pavilion, then the light burst out, almost blinding. After the light flashed, it dimmed down, revealing a thin figure on top of the grass pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under two short eyebrows, flashed with black light, looking eerie. He was dressed in a linen robe, standing high on the grass pavilion, laughing a few times, arrogantly saying, “Bai Ye is right, it’s best not to interfere in our brotherly affairs, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
After saying that, he suddenly turned his head, his eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing, “Third brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, you come and ask me for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third brother, this is not interesting,” the linen-robed old man chuckled, “It’s really a case of searching high and low, only to find it without effort! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy surnamed Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said with a normal expression, “Fourth brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is someone your niece fancies, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check the other party’s family background and character? Do you even want to interfere in this?”
The linen-robed old man listened, then let out a series of hoarse laughs, “Third brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve traveled thousands of miles at night, naturally, I’ve found out everything. The ancients said the darkest place is under the lamp, second brother and I have been searching hard all these years, never expected he’s been hiding right under our noses for so many years. You might not believe it, second brother and I have both met this boy, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, even the great Dian Zhenren could be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he let out a series of cold laughs. Mei Qing, who was listening nearby, was moved, suddenly remembering the voice of the linen-robed old man. Back in the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he was chasing Yang Jin and trying to seize the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone protector was exactly the same as the old man before him.
So this Mr. Liu was actually a fellow disciple with Dian Zhenren Tao Zhongwen and this linen-robed old man referred to as “fourth brother”. Hearing the linen-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “second brother” and Liu Xing “third brother”, naturally, they were ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo”, and hearing Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” under the Plum Blossom Sect, so Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this linen-robed old man should all be under the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade, among the six disciples, two are in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even joined the court, becoming the national teacher; while Liu Xing lives in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
It’s just unknown what changes have occurred in the Plum Blossom Sect. And the Plum Blossom Zhenren Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing, has already passed away, presumably he’s no longer with us. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he pass away without a clear reason?
“I trust second brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he’s seen him and didn’t notice, it just proves Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know once we see him,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, third brother, don’t let Mei Qing cause discord between brothers.”
“Discord?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re being polite with me? Enough of the small talk, if you cherish our brotherly bond today, then leave quickly. If you insist on pestering, Liu will have to risk his life to accompany you!”
The linen-robed old man saw Liu Xing’s provocation but did not get angry. He made no movement at all, suddenly flashed from the top of the pavilion to the bottom, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at Liu Xing for a while, then said in a deep voice, “Liu, out of respect, I call you third brother, but only because you entered the sect before me. Actually, when master accepted you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were the weakest. Especially later when you secretly admired the younger sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation not only didn’t improve but regressed… If you fight me, it’s not an exaggeration to say, within three quarters, you’ll die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but don’t expect me to surrender without a fight,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the linen-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is third brother so tough today?” The linen-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then turned thoughtfully to Bai Ye who was silent, “What? Old Bai, are you going to make things difficult for me too?”
Bai Ye still stood motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
After saying that, he turned to look at the linen-robed old man and shook his head, “However, Mei’er is a girl I’ve watched grow up. Finally, the girl has grown up and found a suitable husband, but you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very righteous.” His eyes, flashing with black light, moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Bai Ye’s faces several times, then suddenly burst into laughter, “So that’s it, so that’s it. Well, since even old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he turned to Liu Xing with a smile, “Third brother, since our girl has found a suitable groom, on this happy occasion, brother would like to trouble you for a cup of wine, I guess third brother won’t refuse, right?”
“Your legs are on your own body, if I refuse, won’t you come?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Alright, alright,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely, “We’ll meet again.” Then he turned to Bai Ye, “Old Bai, when did you hook up with old third? If it’s about that year… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
As he spoke, he laughed heartily, his body suddenly became distorted and thin, a light shield formed around him, gradually turning into a light ball like when he came, he retreated lightly, already high above the grass pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the grass pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as calm as water, he spat with hatred. Then he turned to Bai Ye, “Old Bai, today it’s all thanks to you.”
Bai Ye slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please log in to www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai’s voice was cold. “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my ambitions have faded, but with my temperament, I won’t cower and hide.”
“That’s good. With the two of us working together, we might not fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth. “If they really turn heartless, we’ll fight to the bitter end!”
“I won’t risk my life for them,” Master Bai snorted. “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, uncertain. “You might not help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head with a sigh. “If it’s really her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making the atmosphere unbearably heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go wake Mei’er now and have her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at the Supreme Cliff,” Liu Xing sighed. “It’s better than risking an encounter with the city folk, which could be problematic.”
“The Supreme Cliff? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her abilities, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery. “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her and who you’ve been pining for all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just devour him in anger. Mei’er, though talented, has limited cultivation and can’t protect Mei Qing. Where else can they hide?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you examined Mei Qing? I mean, does he show any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Liu Xing laughed. “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. I’ve checked, and so has his companion. There’s no trace of cultivation.”
Master Bai sighed. “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally unable to cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
He shook his head again. “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe. Except for that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head. “Too dangerous. Besides, we agreed years ago not to disturb Wu Duo again. If you think the Supreme Cliff isn’t feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then take your time to think. I suspect your second brother won’t be easy to deal with, and the fourth brother is probably already on his way,” a hoarse voice suddenly echoed under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch above to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turning northward. In the dark, lightless sky, a bright white light was flying towards them. The light grew larger as it approached, reaching the size of a zhang when it arrived in front of the mansion.
“They’ve indeed come,” Liu Xing said bitterly. “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head. “No, they were still far away. It’s just a bluff.”
He then sneered at the light. “Fourth Master, why not enjoy your fortune in the capital instead of returning to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a response, Master Bai snorted again. “You brothers haven’t seen each other in years, catch up. I won’t bother with you.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then burst into a blinding brilliance. When the light faded, a thin figure appeared on the pavilion’s roof.
The old man was short, with sparse hair and beard neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, gleamed with a dark light, looking eerie. Dressed in hemp clothes, he stood high on the pavilion, laughing arrogantly. “Master Bai is right, it’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly affairs, to avoid trouble.”
He suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Liu Xing. “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered. “After so many years, you come asking for a person? What boy are you talking about?”
“Third Brother, don’t play dumb,” the hemp-clad old man chuckled. “It’s strange, why did you send someone to investigate that Mei boy from afar? Ha, now I understand!”
“You’re talking about that,” Liu Xing said calmly. “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is your niece’s beloved. Before marrying my daughter off, shouldn’t I check his background and character? Do you want to interfere in that too?”
The hemp-clad old man let out a series of hoarse laughs. “Third Brother, don’t beat around the bush. Since I’ve come all this way, I’ve naturally investigated everything. The ancients said the darkest place is under the lamp. Second Brother and I have searched high and low, never expecting he’s been right under our noses all these years. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy before and didn’t recognize him! Ha, even the great Master Dian can be mistaken!”
He continued to chuckle coldly. Mei Qing, listening nearby, suddenly remembered the voice of the hemp-clad old man. It was the same voice that had possessed Stone Protector when he chased Yang Jin and seized the Seven Star Inkstone at the Yang family’s ancestral hall.
So this Mr. Liu was actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiren Tao Zhongwen and the hemp-clad old man referred to as “Fourth Brother.” Hearing the hemp-clad old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” it was clear they were ranked second and third among their peers.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo” and heard Lu Bing mention that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect. Thus, Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-clad old man should all be members of the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect had been silent for over a decade. Among the six disciples, two were in the capital, with Tao Zhongwen serving as the national teacher in the court, while Liu Xing lived in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts were unknown.
But what had happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? According to Liu Xing, the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai had already passed away, which was unexpected given his reputed extraordinary cultivation.
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered. “Since he didn’t notice, it proves Mei Qing isn’t the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know after seeing him,” the hemp-clad old man said hoarsely. “Third Brother, please don’t let this boy ruin our brotherly harmony.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed. “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re being polite with me? Enough talk. If you value our brotherhood, leave now. If you insist on causing trouble, I’ll have to risk my life to accompany you!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocation, the hemp-clad old man didn’t get angry. Without any movement, he suddenly appeared below the pavilion, hands behind his back, staring at Liu Xing. “Mr. Liu, I call you Third Brother out of respect for your seniority. But Master only took you in for that place. As for your cultivation… ha, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you fell for our junior sister and were heartbroken when she married, your cultivation regressed… To be honest, if we fight, you’d be dead within three quarters of an hour.”
“Take my life if you can, but don’t expect me to surrender,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, eyes fixed on the hemp-clad old man.
“How strange, Third Brother is unusually tough today,” the hemp-clad old man said with a playful smile, glancing at Liu Xing, then thoughtfully turning to the silent Master Bai. “What? Are you also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai remained motionless, his eyes half-closed. “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
He turned to the hemp-clad old man, shaking his head. “But Mei’er is like a daughter to me. She’s finally grown up and found a suitable husband, and you come here to take him away? That’s not very honorable.”
His dark eyes shifted between Liu Xing and Master Bai, then he burst into laughter. “So that’s how it is. Fine, since even you say so, I’ll let it go for today.”
He then smiled at Liu Xing. “Third Brother, since our girl has found a good match, on this happy occasion, I’d like to toast with a cup of wine. Surely you won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own. Would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Good, good,” the hemp-clad old man said hoarsely. “We’ll meet again.” He turned to Master Bai. “Master Bai, when did you and Third Brother get so close? If you think back… ha, not wise, not wise!”
With that, he laughed heartily, his figure distorting and thinning, surrounded by a glowing halo, gradually turning into the same light sphere as before. He lightly retreated, rising high above the pavilion, then shot off like a meteor, his laughter still echoing below.
Liu Xing’s face was dark with anger, spitting in disgust. He turned to Master Bai. “Old Bai, today we owe you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head. “He won’t leave. We need to be careful.” (Please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” said Bai Ye in a cold voice. “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my ambitions have faded, but given my nature, I won’t cower and hide.”
“That’s good. If we join forces, we might not have to fear them!” Liu Xing said through gritted teeth. “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the bitter end!”
“I won’t risk my life with them,” Bai Ye snorted. “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Bai Ye, somewhat uncertainly. “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Bai Ye fell silent again, finally shaking his head with a sigh. “If it’s really her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making everything feel overwhelmingly heavy.
“Enough. I’ll go and wake Mei’er now, have her and Mei Qing go to Wudang Mountain, to the Tai Shang Rock to hide for a while,” Liu Xing sighed. “It’s better than having them run into someone from the city, which could be problematic.”
“Tai Shang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Bai Ye’s voice was cold, tinged with mockery. “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her, and who you’ve been pining for all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just devour Mei Qing in anger. Mei’er, though talented, has only been cultivating for a short time and can’t protect Mei Qing. So where should they hide?”
Bai Ye remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you checked Mei Qing? I mean, does he show any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Liu Xing laughed. “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, and neither he nor his companion show any signs of cultivation.”
Bai Ye sighed. “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally incapable of cultivation. I must have been mistaken.”
He shook his head again. “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe. Except perhaps that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head. “Too dangerous. Besides, we agreed years ago not to disturb Wu Duo again. If you think Tai Shang Rock isn’t feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then take your time thinking. I suspect your second brother won’t be easy to convince, and your fourth brother is probably already on his way,” a hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the thatched pavilion, causing the thick thatch to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Bai Ye were both startled, their gazes turning northward. Under the dark, lightless sky, a white, glowing mass flew towards them from afar. As it approached, it grew larger, reaching the size of a man when it arrived in front of the pavilion.
“They’ve come,” Liu Xing said with hatred. “Did they hear what we just said?”
Bai Ye shook his head. “No, they were too far away just now. It’s just a bluff.”
With that, he sneered at the glowing mass. “Fourth Brother, why aren’t you enjoying your fortune in the capital, instead of returning to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a response, Bai Ye snorted again. “You brothers haven’t seen each other in years, catch up on your own. I can’t be bothered with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the thatched pavilion, then flared brightly, almost blinding. As the light faded, a thin figure appeared on top of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, beneath short eyebrows, glinted with a dark, eerie light. Dressed in a hemp robe, he stood high on the pavilion, laughing arrogantly. “Bai Ye is right. It’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly affairs, lest you find yourself in trouble.”
With that, he suddenly turned, his eyes locking onto Liu Xing. “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered. “After so many years, you come asking for a person? What boy? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, that’s not interesting,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled. “It’s like the saying, ‘searching high and low, only to find it effortlessly.’ I was wondering why you went to such lengths to investigate that boy named Mei. Ha, now I see!”
“If that’s what you’re referring to,” Liu Xing said calmly, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is someone your niece is fond of. Before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check the family background and character of the suitor? Do you want to interfere in that too?”
The hemp-robed old man let out a series of hoarse laughs. “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, I’ve naturally found out everything. The ancients said, ‘the darkest place is under the lamp.’ Second Brother and I have been searching high and low all these years, never expecting he’s been right under our noses all this time. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy before and didn’t realize it! Ha, to think that even the esteemed Dian Zhenren could be so blind!”
He continued to chuckle coldly. Hearing this, Mei Qing’s heart stirred, suddenly recalling the voice of the hemp-robed old man. Back in the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he was chasing Yang Jin and trying to seize the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that had possessed the stone guardian was exactly the same as this old man’s.
So this Mr. Liu was actually a fellow disciple of Dian Zhenren Tao Zhongwen and this hemp-robed old man referred to as “Fourth Brother.” Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” it was clear they were ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly remembered that his mother was called “Wu Duo,” and according to Lu Bing, she might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect. If so, then Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man should all be disciples of the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect had been silent for over a decade. Of the six disciples, two were in the capital, with Tao Zhongwen serving as the national teacher in the imperial court, while Liu Xing lived in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts were unknown.
But what had happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? According to Liu Xing, the Plum Blossom Zhenren Fan Wentai had already passed away, which was unexpected. Given Fan Wentai’s reputed extraordinary cultivation, how could he have died so mysteriously?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered. “Since he didn’t notice anything, it just proves that Mei Qing isn’t the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know once we see him,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely. “Third Brother, please hand over Mei Qing to avoid any discord between us.”
“Discord?” Liu Xing laughed. “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re speaking politely to me? Enough with the small talk. If you value our brotherhood, leave now. If you insist on causing trouble, I’ll have no choice but to fight you to the death!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocation, the hemp-robed old man didn’t get angry. Without any movement, he suddenly appeared below the pavilion, hands behind his back, staring at Liu Xing for a long time before speaking in a deep voice. “Liu, I call you Third Brother out of respect for your seniority. But in truth, when Master took you in, it was only for that place. As for your cultivation… ha, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you fell for our junior sister and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation regressed instead of advancing… To be honest, if we were to fight, within three quarters of an hour, you’d be dead by my hand.”
“If you have the skill, take my life. But if you think I’ll surrender without a fight, forget it,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“How strange, Third Brother, you’re unusually tough today,” the hemp-robed old man said with a playful smile, glancing at Liu Xing before turning thoughtfully to Bai Ye, who had been silent. “What? Are you going to make things difficult for me too, Bai Ye?”
Bai Ye remained motionless, his eyes half-closed. “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
He turned to the hemp-robed old man and shook his head. “However, I watched Mei’er grow up. Finally, she’s found a suitable husband, and you come here wanting to take him away by force. That’s not very honorable.”
His dark, gleaming eyes shifted between Liu Xing and Bai Ye several times before he burst into laughter. “So that’s how it is, that’s how it is. Fine, since even Bai Ye says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
He then turned to Liu Xing with a smile. “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable groom, on this joyous occasion, I’d like to trouble you for a cup of wine. Surely you won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own. If I refuse, will you not come?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Fine, fine,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely. “We’ll meet again.” He then turned to Bai Ye. “Bai Ye, when did you start colluding with Third Brother? If it’s about the past… ha, not wise, not wise at all!”
With that, he laughed heartily, his figure suddenly becoming distorted and faint, a light enveloping his body, gradually forming into the same glowing mass as before. With a light leap, he rose high above the pavilion, then shot off into the distance like a meteor, his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, and he spat in disgust. Turning to Bai Ye, he said, “Bai Ye, I owe you one today.”
Bai Ye slowly shook his head. “He won’t leave. We need to be careful.” (Please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai’s voice was cold. “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have faded, but with my nature, I won’t shrink back from living my life.”
“That’s good. With the two of us together, we might not fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth. “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the end!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Master Bai snorted. “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, somewhat uncertain. “You don’t have to help with my matters, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head with a sigh. “If it’s really her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making the atmosphere unbearably heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and call Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing go to Wudang Mountain, to Taishang Rock to hide for a while.” Liu Xing sighed. “It’s better than being caught by the city people, which would be inappropriate.”
“Taishang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery. “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her, and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just devour Mei Qing in anger. Although Mei’er has good potential, her cultivation is still short, and she can’t protect Mei Qing. Where else can they hide?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you checked Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could that be?” Master Liu laughed. “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, and there’s no sign of cultivation in him or his companion.”
Master Bai sighed. “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
He shook his head again. “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe, except perhaps that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head. “Isn’t that too dangerous? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo again. If you think Taishang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then take your time to think. I guess your second brother won’t be easy to deal with, and the fourth brother is probably already on his way. How fortunate.” A hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, stirring the thick thatch on the roof, causing dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turning northward, where a white light was flying towards them from the dark, lightless sky. The light grew larger as it approached, reaching the size of a zhang by the time it arrived in front of the mansion.
“They’ve indeed come,” Liu Xing said with hatred. “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head. “No, they were still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
With that, he sneered at the light. “Fourth Master, why not enjoy your fortune in the capital, what brings you back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a reply, Master Bai snorted again. “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, go ahead and catch up. Old Bai here doesn’t care to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then burst into brilliance, almost blinding. As the light faded, a thin figure appeared on the roof of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, flashed with a dark light, looking eerie. He wore only a linen robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughing arrogantly. “Master Bai is right, it’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly affairs, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
With that, he suddenly turned, his eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing. “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered. “After so many years, you come and ask me for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the linen-robed old man chuckled. “It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack, only to find it without effort! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy surnamed Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said with a normal expression. “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is your niece’s beloved, shouldn’t I check his family background and character before marrying my daughter? Do you want to interfere with that too?”
The linen-robed old man let out a series of hoarse laughs. “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, I’ve naturally found out everything. The ancients said the darkest place is under the lamp, and Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, never expecting he’s been right under our noses for so long. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy before, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, even the great Master Dian could be mistaken!”
He continued to chuckle coldly. Listening beside him, Mei Qing’s heart stirred, suddenly remembering the voice of the linen-robed old man. Back in the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he went after Yang Jin and finally seized the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed Stone Protector was exactly the same as this old man’s.
So this old man, Mr. Liu, was actually a fellow disciple with Master Dian Zhiren Tao Zhongwen and this linen-robed old man referred to as “Fourth Brother.” Hearing the linen-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” naturally they were ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo,” and hearing Lu Bing say his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect, it seemed that Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this linen-robed old man were all from the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade, with two of its members in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even serving the court as the National Preceptor; while Liu Xing lived in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts were unknown.
Only, what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing’s words, had already passed away, presumably no longer with us. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he have died without a clear reason?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered. “Since he didn’t notice, it just proves Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know once we see him,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely. “Please, Third Brother, don’t let Mei Qing harm the brotherly harmony.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed. “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re speaking politely to me? Enough of the small talk, if you remember our brotherly bond today, leave quickly. If you insist on causing trouble, Liu will have to risk his life to accompany you!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocative words, the linen-robed old man was not angered. Without any movement, he suddenly flashed from the pavilion roof to the ground, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at Liu Xing for a while, and said in a deep voice, “Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but only because you entered the sect before me. In fact, when Master accepted you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially later, when you secretly loved the younger sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation regressed instead of advancing… To say you could fight me, without exaggeration, within three quarters, you would die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, take my life. If you want me to surrender, forget it.” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the linen-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The linen-robed old man had a playful smile, looked at Liu Xing a few times, then seemed thoughtful as he turned to the silent Master Bai. “What? Does Old Bai also want to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai still stood motionless, his eyes half-closed. “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
With that, he turned to the linen-robed old man and shook his head. “However, Mei’er is a girl I’ve watched grow up. Finally, she’s found a suitable husband, and you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very righteous.” His dark eyes moved between Liu Xing and Master Bai’s faces several times, then suddenly burst into laughter. “So that’s it, so that’s it. Well, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
He then smiled at Liu Xing. “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy occasion, I must trouble you for a cup of wine, I hope Third Brother won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Alright, alright,” the linen-robed old man said hoarsely. “We’ll meet again.” He turned to Master Bai. “Old Bai, when did you and Third Brother get so close? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
With that, he laughed heartily, his figure suddenly becoming distorted and faint, a light shield forming around him, gradually turning into a light ball like when he came, lightly retreating, he had already risen high above the grass pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he shot into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, he spat with hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai. “Old Bai, today we owe you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head. “He won’t leave, we must be careful.” (Please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my ambitions have faded, but given my nature, I won’t cower and hide.”
“That’s good. Together, we might not have to fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth, “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight to the death with them,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, uncertainly saying, “You might not help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If he is truly her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making everything feel overwhelmingly heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and wake up Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing go to Wudang Mountain, to Taishang Rock to hide for a while,” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better than having them run into people from the city, which could be problematic.”
“Taishang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you didn’t marry her and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just consume Mei Qing in anger. Although Mei’er has good potential, her cultivation is still shallow and she can’t protect Mei Qing. Where else can they hide?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you examined Mei Qing? I mean, does he show any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, including his companion, there’s no sign of cultivation at all.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
Then he shook his head, “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe, except perhaps that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Taishang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then think slowly. I guess your second brother is hard to persuade, even the fourth brother is probably already on his way, how fortunate.” A hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, stirring the thick thatch on the pavilion, causing dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turned northward, where a bright white light was flying towards them from the dark, lightless sky. The light grew larger as it approached, reaching the size of a zhang when it arrived in front of the mansion.
“They’re really here,” Liu Xing said with hatred, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
Then, he sneered at the light, “Fourth Master, why not enjoy your fortune in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a response, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other for years, go ahead and catch up. Old Bai doesn’t want to bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then the light intensified, almost blinding. After the light faded, a thin figure appeared on top of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes under short eyebrows flashed with black light, looking eerie. He was dressed in a hemp robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughing arrogantly, “Master Bai is right, it’s best you don’t interfere in our brotherly affairs, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
Then, he suddenly turned, his eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing, “Third brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, you come and ask me for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third brother, this is not interesting,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled, “It’s really a case of searching high and low without success, then finding it effortlessly! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy surnamed Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said calmly, “Fourth brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is someone your niece is fond of, before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check his family background and character? Do you want to interfere in that too?”
The hemp-robed old man let out a series of hoarse laughs, “Third brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, naturally I’ve investigated everything clearly. The ancients said the darkest place is under the lamp, and after years of searching, I and second brother never expected he was right under our noses for so many years. You might not believe it, but I and second brother have both met this boy before, and didn’t recognize him! Haha, to think that the dignified Master Dian could also be mistaken!”
He continued to laugh coldly. Mei Qing, listening nearby, felt a stir in his heart, suddenly remembering the voice of the hemp-robed old man. Back in the Yang family’s ancestral hall, when he was chasing Yang Jin and trying to seize the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone protector was exactly the same as this old man’s.
So this Mr. Liu is actually a fellow disciple with Master Dian Zhiren Tao Zhongwen and this hemp-robed old man referred to as “Fourth brother.” Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “second brother” and Liu Xing “third brother,” naturally they are ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo,” and hearing Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect, it seems that Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man should all be members of the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade, with two of its members in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even serving as the national teacher; while Liu Xing lives in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
But what happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing’s words, has already passed away, presumably no longer with us. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he pass away without a clear reason?
“I trust second brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he couldn’t find anything, it just proves that Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know after seeing him,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “Please, third brother, don’t let Mei Qing cause discord between us brothers.”
“Discord?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re speaking politely to me? Enough of the small talk, if you cherish our brotherhood today, leave quickly. If you insist on making trouble, I’ll have no choice but to fight to the death with you!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocative words, the hemp-robed old man was not angered. Without any movement, he suddenly flashed from the top of the pavilion to the ground, looked at Liu Xing for a while, then said solemnly, “Mr. Liu, I call you third brother out of respect, but only because you entered the sect before me. In fact, when our master took you as a disciple, it was only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you secretly admired our junior sister, and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation regressed instead of advancing… To say you could fight me, without exaggeration, within three quarters, you would die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but don’t expect me to surrender without a fight,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is third brother so tough today?” The hemp-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then turned thoughtfully to the silent Master Bai, “What? Is old Bai also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai remained motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Then, he turned to the hemp-robed old man and shook his head, “However, Mei’er is a girl I’ve watched grow up. Finally, she’s grown up and found a suitable husband, but you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very honorable.” His black eyes moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai, then he suddenly laughed loudly, “So that’s it, so that’s it. Fine, since even old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then he smiled at Liu Xing, “Third brother, since our girl has found a suitable husband, on this happy occasion, I must trouble you for a cup of wine, I hope third brother won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Fine, fine,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “Then we’ll meet again.” He turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, when did you and third brother get together? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
With that, he laughed loudly, his figure suddenly becoming distorted and faint, a light shield forming around him, gradually turning into a light ball like when he arrived, lightly retreating, and then rising high above the grass pavilion. Like a meteor, he flew into the distance, only his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, he spat in hatred. Then he turned to Master Bai, “Old Bai, today it’s all thanks to you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we must be careful.” (Please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai said coldly, “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have faded, but with my temperament, I’m not one to hide my head and live in fear.”
“That’s good, with the two of us working together, we might not be afraid of them!” Liu Xing said through gritted teeth, “If they really turn heartless, we might as well fight to the death!”
“I won’t fight them to the death,” Master Bai snorted, “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, somewhat uncertainly, “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head and sighing, “If it really is her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon in the sky had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making the atmosphere unbearably heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and call Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at the Tai Shang Rock,” Liu Xing sighed, “It’s better than being caught by the city people, which would be inappropriate.”
“Tai Shang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery, “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her, and who you’ve been longing for all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might just eat Mei Qing alive. Mei’er, although talented, has been cultivating for a short time and can’t protect Mei Qing. Where else can they hide?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you checked Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could he?” Master Liu laughed, “You know his physique. He can’t cultivate. Of course, I’ve checked, and there’s no sign of cultivation in him or his companion.”
Master Bai sighed, “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally he can’t cultivate. I must have been mistaken.”
Then he shook his head, “If you really want him to hide, nowhere is safe, except for that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head, “Too dangerous? Besides, we agreed back then not to disturb Wu Duo anymore. If you think Tai Shang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then think slowly. I guess your second brother won’t be easy to talk to, and the fourth brother is probably already on his way, lucky as he is.” A hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turning northward, where a white light was flying towards them from the dark, lightless sky. The light grew larger and larger as it approached, reaching the size of a zhang when it arrived in front of the mansion.
“They’ve really come,” Liu Xing said bitterly, “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head, “No, they were still far away, just bluffing.”
Then, he sneered at the light, “Fourth Master, instead of enjoying your fortune in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a reply, Master Bai snorted again, “You brothers haven’t seen each other in years, go ahead and catch up. Old Bai won’t bother with you, so don’t mind me.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then the light intensified, almost blinding. After the light faded, a thin figure appeared on top of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, flashed with black light, looking eerie. He was dressed in a hemp robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughing arrogantly, “Master Bai is right, you’d better not interfere in our brotherly affairs, lest you find yourself in trouble.”
Then, he suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Liu Xing, “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered, “After so many years, you come and ask me for a person? What boy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Third Brother, this is no fun,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled, “It’s strange, why did you send someone to investigate that Mei boy from afar? Haha, now I see!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said calmly, “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is your niece’s beloved, before I marry my daughter, shouldn’t I check his family background and character? Do you want to interfere in that too?”
The hemp-robed old man let out a series of hoarse laughs, “Third Brother, don’t play dumb. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, I’ve naturally investigated everything. The ancients said the darkest place is under the lamp, and Second Brother and I have been searching hard all these years, never expecting him to be right under our noses for so long. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought, even the great Master Dian could be mistaken!”
He continued to chuckle coldly. Mei Qing, listening, suddenly remembered the voice of the hemp-robed old man. It was the same voice that had possessed the stone guardian when he chased Yang Jin and seized the Seven Star Inkstone at the Yang family’s ancestral hall.
So, this old man Liu was actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiwen Tao Zhongwen and the hemp-robed old man referred to as “Fourth Brother.” Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” they were naturally ranked second and third.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo,” and hearing Lu Bing say his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect, it seemed that Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man were all disciples of the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect had been silent for over a decade, with two of its members in the capital, Tao Zhongwen even serving as the national teacher; Liu Xing living in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts unknown.
But what had happened to the Plum Blossom Sect? And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing, had already passed away, presumably no longer alive. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he have died without a trace?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered, “Since he saw him and didn’t notice, it just proves Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know once we see him,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “Third Brother, please don’t let this boy come between our brotherly harmony.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed, “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re being polite with me? Enough of the small talk, if you cherish our brotherly bond, leave quickly. If you insist on causing trouble, I’ll have to risk my life to accompany you!”
The hemp-robed old man, seeing Liu Xing’s provocation, did not get angry. Without any movement, he suddenly appeared below the pavilion, hands behind his back, looking at Liu Xing for a long time, then said gravely, “Liu, I call you Third Brother out of respect because you entered the sect before me. But in truth, Master took you in only for that place, as for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you fell for our junior sister and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation regressed instead of advancing… To fight me, without exaggeration, you’d be dead within three quarters of an hour.”
“If you have the ability, take my life, but don’t expect me to surrender without a fight,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“How strange, Third Brother is so tough today?” The hemp-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then turned thoughtfully to the silent Master Bai, “What? Old Bai, are you going to make trouble for me too?”
Master Bai remained motionless, his eyes half-closed, “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Then, turning to the hemp-robed old man, he shook his head, “But, Mei’er is a girl I watched grow up. Finally, she’s found a suitable husband, and you come here to take him away by force, that’s not very honorable.” His black eyes flickered between Liu Xing and Master Bai, then he burst into laughter, “So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is. Fine, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
Then, he smiled at Liu Xing, “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable groom, on this happy occasion, I’d like to trouble you for a cup of wine, I hope you won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Fine, fine,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely, “We’ll meet again.” Then, turning to Master Bai, he said, “Old Bai, when did you start colluding with Third Brother? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise at all!”
With that, he laughed heartily, his figure suddenly twisting and thinning, a light shield forming around him, gradually turning into the same light sphere as before, and with a light leap, he rose high above the pavilion. Then, like a meteor, he shot into the distance, his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, he spat in disgust. Then, turning to Master Bai, he said, “Old Bai, today I owe you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head, “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please log in to www.qidian.com for more chapters)
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“What am I afraid of?” Master Bai’s voice was cold. “You don’t need to provoke me. Over the years, my thoughts have faded, but with my temperament, I won’t shrink back from living my life.”
“That’s good. If we join forces, we might not have to fear them!” Liu Xing gritted his teeth. “If they really turn heartless, we’ll fight to the death!”
“I won’t risk my life with them,” Master Bai snorted. “I won’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
Liu Xing glanced at Master Bai, uncertain. “You don’t have to help me, but won’t you save her son?”
Master Bai fell silent again, finally shaking his head with a sigh. “If it’s really her son, I won’t let him die.”
Liu Xing also fell silent. The moon had already hidden behind a cloud, and the sky was covered with dark clouds, making the atmosphere unbearably heavy.
“Enough, I’ll go and wake Mei’er now, let her and Mei Qing hide at Wudang Mountain, at the Tai Shang Rock,” Liu Xing sighed. “It’s better than being caught by the city folks, which could be troublesome.”
“Tai Shang Rock? That old lover of yours’ cultivation place? You know her cultivation level, do you think she can protect Mei Qing?” Master Bai’s voice was cold with a hint of mockery. “Besides, she knows why you wouldn’t marry her, and who you’ve been thinking about all these years. If she finds out Mei Qing is Wu Duo’s son, with her jealousy, she might not let Mei Qing off easily.”
“Mei’er, although talented, has only been cultivating for a short time and can’t protect Mei Qing. Where else can we hide them?”
Master Bai remained silent. After a while, he said, “There’s something strange. Have you examined Mei Qing? I mean, does he have any signs of cultivation?”
“How could that be?” Master Liu laughed. “You know his physique. It’s impossible for him to cultivate. I’ve checked, and there’s no sign of cultivation in him or his companion.”
Master Bai sighed. “Yes, he’s Wu Duo’s son, naturally incapable of cultivation. I must have been mistaken.”
He shook his head again. “If you really want to hide him, nowhere is safe, except perhaps that place…”
“No, no,” Liu Xing shook his head. “Too dangerous. Besides, we agreed years ago not to disturb Wu Duo again. If you think Tai Shang Rock is not feasible, I’ll think of another way.”
“Then think slowly. I guess your second brother won’t be easy to deal with, and the fourth brother is probably already on his way.” A hoarse voice suddenly rang out, echoing under the grass pavilion, causing the thick thatch on the pavilion to rustle and dust to fall.
Liu Xing and Master Bai were both startled, their gazes turning northward. In the dark, lightless sky, a white, hazy light was flying towards them. The light grew larger and larger as it approached, and by the time it reached the mansion, it was already over ten feet in size.
“They’ve indeed come,” Liu Xing said with hatred. “Did they hear what we just said?”
Master Bai shook his head. “No, they were still far away just now, it’s just a bluff.”
With that, he sneered at the light. “Fourth Master, instead of enjoying your fortune in the capital, why come back to this wilderness?”
Without waiting for a reply, Master Bai snorted again. “You brothers haven’t seen each other in years, go ahead and catch up. Old Bai won’t bother with you.”
The white light stopped above the grass pavilion, then burst into a blinding glare. After the light faded, a thin figure appeared on top of the pavilion.
The old man was not tall, with sparse hair and beard, neatly trimmed. His eyes, under short eyebrows, flashed with a dark light, looking eerie. He wore a hemp robe, standing high on the pavilion, laughing arrogantly. “Master Bai is right, you’d better not interfere in our brotherly affairs, to avoid making a fool of yourself.”
Suddenly, he turned his head, his eyes tightly fixed on Liu Xing. “Third Brother, where is that boy?”
“Fourth Brother, when did you become a human trafficker?” Liu Xing sneered. “After so many years, you come and ask me for a person? What boy are you talking about?”
“Third Brother, this is not interesting,” the hemp-robed old man chuckled. “It’s really a case of searching high and low, only to find it effortlessly! I was wondering why you sent someone to investigate that boy named Mei from afar, haha, so that’s it!”
“You’re talking about this,” Liu Xing said calmly. “Fourth Brother, you’re always so suspicious. Mei Qing is someone your niece is fond of. Before I marry off my daughter, shouldn’t I check the other party’s family background and character? Do you want to interfere in that too?”
The hemp-robed old man let out a series of hoarse laughs. “Third Brother, don’t beat around the bush. Since I’ve come all this way in the night, I’ve naturally found out everything. The ancients said the darkest place is under the lamp. Second Brother and I have been searching high and low all these years, never expecting him to have been hiding right under our noses for so many years. You might not believe it, but Second Brother and I have both met this boy before, and we didn’t notice! Haha, who would have thought that even the great Master Dian could be mistaken!”
As he spoke, he continued to laugh coldly. Mei Qing, who was listening nearby, suddenly remembered the voice of the hemp-robed old man. When he was chasing Yang Jin at the Yang family’s ancestral hall and trying to seize the Seven Star Inkstone, the voice that possessed the stone protector was exactly the same as this old man’s.
So this old man, Mr. Liu, was actually a fellow disciple of Master Dian Zhiwen Tao Zhongwen and this hemp-robed old man referred to as “Fourth Brother.” Hearing the hemp-robed old man call Tao Zhongwen “Second Brother” and Liu Xing “Third Brother,” they were naturally ranked second and third respectively.
Mei Qing suddenly thought of his mother being called “Wu Duo.” He also heard Lu Bing say that his mother might be one of the “Six Plum Blossoms” of the Plum Blossom Sect. If so, then Tao Zhongwen, Liu Xing, and this hemp-robed old man should all be disciples of the Plum Blossom Sect.
No wonder the Plum Blossom Sect has been silent for over a decade. Among the six disciples, two are in the capital, with Tao Zhongwen even serving as the national teacher in the court; Liu Xing has been living in seclusion, and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
It’s just unclear what changes have occurred within the Plum Blossom Sect. And the Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, according to Liu Xing’s words, has already passed away, presumably no longer with us. But Fan Wentai was said to have astonishing cultivation, how could he have died so mysteriously?
“I trust Second Brother’s judgment,” Liu Xing sneered. “Since he couldn’t find anything, it just proves that Mei Qing is not the person you’re looking for.”
“Whether he is or not, we’ll know once we see him,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely. “Third Brother, please don’t let that boy Mei Qing ruin our brotherly harmony.”
“Harmony?” Liu Xing laughed. “Fourth Brother, when have you ever been harmonious with anyone? Today you’re actually being polite with me? Enough of the small talk, if you cherish our brotherly bond, leave quickly. If you insist on causing trouble, I’ll have no choice but to fight you to the death!”
Seeing Liu Xing’s provocation, the hemp-robed old man was not angered. Without any movement, he suddenly flashed from the top of the pavilion to the ground below, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked at Liu Xing for a long time before saying in a deep voice, “Mr. Liu, out of respect, I call you Third Brother, but only because you entered the sect before me. In fact, when the master accepted you as a disciple, it was only for that place. As for your cultivation… hehe, among the brothers, you were always the weakest. Especially after you secretly fell in love with our junior sister and were heartbroken when she married someone else, your cultivation regressed instead of advancing… To say that if you fight me, it’s no exaggeration to say that within three quarters, you’ll die by my hand.”
“If you have the ability, take my life. But if you think I’ll surrender without a fight, forget it,” Liu Xing said coldly, his long sleeves hanging by his sides, his eyes fixed on the hemp-robed old man.
“It’s strange, why is Third Brother so tough today?” The hemp-robed old man looked at Liu Xing with a playful smile, then seemed to think of something and turned to the silent Master Bai. “What? Is Old Bai also going to make things difficult for me?”
Master Bai remained motionless, his eyes half-closed. “I don’t interfere in your brotherly affairs.”
He turned to look at the hemp-robed old man and shook his head. “However, I’ve watched Mei’er grow up. It’s not easy for the girl to grow up and find a suitable husband, but you come here shouting and killing to take him away, that’s not very righteous.” His eyes, flashing with black light, moved back and forth between Liu Xing and Master Bai’s faces, then suddenly burst into laughter. “So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is. Well, since even Old Bai says so, I’ll let it go for today.”
He then turned to Liu Xing with a smile. “Third Brother, since our girl has found a suitable groom, on this happy occasion, I’d like to ask for a cup of wine. I hope Third Brother won’t refuse?”
“Your legs are your own, would you not come if I refused?” Liu Xing said coldly.
“Alright, alright,” the hemp-robed old man said hoarsely. “We’ll meet again.” He then turned to Master Bai. “Old Bai, when did you start colluding with Third Brother? If it’s about the past… hehe, not wise, not wise!”
With that, he laughed heartily, his figure suddenly becoming distorted and faint, a light shield forming around him, gradually turning into the same light sphere as when he arrived. He lightly retreated, rising high above the grass pavilion, then shot off into the distance like a meteor, his laughter still echoing under the pavilion.
Liu Xing’s face was as dark as water, and he spat in hatred. He then turned to Master Bai. “Old Bai, today I owe you.”
Master Bai slowly shook his head. “He won’t leave, we need to be careful.” (Please visit www.qidian.com for more chapters.)
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