Chapter 217

Feng Yi spoke with a cold tone and arrogant words, which everyone could hear, as if he held no one in his eyes.

If it were anyone else, Wu Laoda and the others would have immediately drawn their weapons, but knowing his cultivation had reached the Tongxuan Realm, how could such a great master tolerate being given the order to leave?

Wu Laoda let out a long breath: "Feng Xia, you speak too seriously." He clasped his hands and said: "Then may I ask, sir, what brings you here?"

Feng Yi smiled and said: "For Tianshan Tonglao!"

Upon hearing this, the scene truly became extraordinarily lively.

Wu Laoda's face turned pale, his hands trembling.

Some were so shocked they stared blankly, some felt inexplicable fear, some had weak legs, some gritted their teeth as if ready to fight to the death, as if nothing in their lives had ever been more terrifying than this.

A Zi's eyes rolled as she tilted her head to look at Feng Yi, smiling charmingly: "Big brother, you see these people just hearing a name, they seem to have lost their souls.

Hey, you with the surname Wu, who is Tianshan Tonglao?"

Duan Yu had once said an extra word before Wuyazi, asking about his martial sister being Li Qiushui; as for his martial elder sister, he didn't ask, and Feng Yi didn't say, so naturally he didn't know.

Wu Laoda couldn't help but tremble slightly, then snapped angrily: "Miss, don't ask me about this name."

The crowd immediately erupted in noise, shouting: "This little girl doesn't know the height of heaven or depth of earth!"

"Yeah, don't mention it!"

"If you keep talking nonsense, don't blame us for turning against you!"

Tianshan Tonglao had controlled the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands for decades with the Life and Death Talisman; their fear was deep in their bones—not just when the talisman activated, but even hearing the four words "Tianshan Tonglao" felt like a thorn in the back, unbearable. Had they not been certain this time that Tianshan Tonglao's body had problems, they would not have dared to rebel.

Wu Laoda swallowed saliva, steadied himself, and said: "Feng Xia, where did you hear this name from?"

Feng Yi said calmly: "There's no wall that doesn't let wind through, so no secret lasts forever. Moreover, Tianshan Tonglao is a regional overlord—would it be strange if I'd heard of him?"

Murong Fu and Wang Yuyan exchanged glances; with their experience and knowledge, they still didn't know who "Tianshan Tonglao" was.

But seeing these heretical people so terrified, Murong Fu knew this group was quite formidable, so "Tianshan Tonglao" must be even more extraordinary—truly, the world is vast, and hidden tigers and dragons lie in wait. Feng Yi not having heard the name before is understandable; Tianshan Tonglao is the same. Clearly, my knowledge is limited. To uphold the reputation of the Gusu Murong clan, how difficult it is!

Thinking this, his caution increased, and he wanted to leave, unwilling to stay in this muddy situation.

"Wait!" Buping Daoren suddenly said: "Murong Gongzi, don't rush!"

Murong Fu paused his steps and said: "You want to keep me?"

Buping Daoren smiled: "How dare I? Wu Laoda, you and your kind have suffered endless oppression and torment from the Lingjiu Palace on Piaomiao Peak under Tianshan Tonglao, with no joy in life. Now you rise in rebellion—even someone as incapable as I wish to draw my sword and join this righteous cause. Murong Gongzi's fame spreads across the world—how could he stand by and do nothing?"

Wu Laoda fell silent in thought. "Tianshan Tonglao" is in their hearts a figure of supreme mastery. Feng Yi saying he'd heard of him is naturally not wrong, but he doesn't know why Feng Yi would suddenly appear at this critical moment.

They deliberately gathered far from Tianshan to keep things secret, to plan and strike the Lingjiu Palace by surprise. That he could know this—has the news leaked? This is what Wu Laoda must consider. After thinking and thinking, he could not fathom it, so he just shook his head.

Wu Laoda said: "You all don't know where you got this news—it's all hearsay and mistake. Tong Popo, yes, she's been a bit strict with us, but that's for our own good. We feel grateful and virtuous—how could we dare say we're 'rebelling'?"

Feng Yi burst into loud laughter.

Wu Laoda said: "What are you laughing at?"

Feng Yi said: "Mr. Wu, I see you're wasting your talents in the jianghu—you should go act. We're plain noodles in clear water, you eat and I watch—we both know the truth. Don't pretend ignorance."

He looked around and said loudly: "You've come from all corners of the earth, gathered here—for what? Do I alone know? Buping Daoren, now call out your good friends. We've always been playing with shadows—this isn't right."

As soon as he spoke, Buping Daoren's heart jolted, and everyone changed expression. Does Buping Daoren have backup?

Someone in the crowd shouted: "Wu Laoda, this isn't a game!"

A rough voice called out: "No half-measures—today we go all out!"

"Yes, beat Feng Yi, Buping Daoren, and Murong Xiao'er to a pulp!"

Only the sounds of *cha-cha*, *swish-swish*, *clang-clang* were heard—weapon noises filled the air as everyone drew their weapons again, which they had just sheathed.

Tianshan Tonglao's might had long been established; they could no longer endure it, and upon learning his body was ill, they decided to rebel—but they would not allow their plot to fail and leak news, otherwise Piaomiao Peak wouldn't be so easy to take, as it's not just Tonglao alone.

A Zi giggled, saying with energy: "Today the wind's strong—who dares stick out their tongue to boast? Aren't you afraid of getting slapped?"

Her words actually silenced the entire noisy crowd.

The crowd immediately fell into dead silence.

Everyone's eyes fixed on A Zi's face—whether man or woman, monk or layperson, host or guest, hundreds of gazes were locked on that pretty face, each holding their breath, focused.

If these words came from Feng Yi, Murong Fu, Buping Daoren, or other experts, it would be no surprise—but a girl having such deep inner strength left everyone astonished.

Murong Fu was as if struck by lightning, staring fixedly at A Zi, losing half his three souls and seven spirits, dazed and foolish like a simpleton.

The Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands people didn't know A Zi's background, only amazed by her deep inner strength.

But he knew: A Zi was just a pretty vase like his cousin a few days ago—how could she suddenly become someone equal to himself in internal mastery?

If he hadn't seen it himself, if someone told him, Murong Fu would have thought it a fantasy.

Buping Daoren laughed loudly: "Speaking in riddles before the enlightened—indeed, I am at fault."

Suddenly raising his voice, he shouted: "Furong Xianzi, Jianshen Lao Xiong, the Thirty-Six Cave Masters and Seventy-Two Island Masters conspire to rebel against Tonglao, yet they turn their backs like oxen denying dirt, still wanting to kill and silence witnesses. Today, I, Buping Daoren, shall ride my crane westward!" His voice echoed far, the mountain valleys ringing.

Before Buping Daoren's voice faded, a cold, arrogant voice came from the western peak: "Buping Daoren, if you can escape, do so; if not, accept your fate. Tonglao's disciples and grandchildren are tough to deal with—I can at most give you a heads-up, but saving your life? I lack that power." This voice was clearly heard from three or four li away.

As he finished, a clear, bright female voice rang from the northern peak: "Ox-nosed one, who asked you to meddle? People have already prepared everything perfectly—this move will bury Tonglao in utter misfortune. I'll now go to Tianshan to ask Tonglao what else she has to say!" Her voice carried even farther than the man's on the western peak.

Hearing this, everyone's faces changed drastically—these two were three or four li away, no matter how they chased, they couldn't catch up. Clearly, Buping Daoren had prepared in advance.

Feng Yi remained calm, saying lightly: "You're all under the Life and Death Talisman—talking about the 'Wanxian Assembly,' I say it's actually the 'Baigui Assembly'—now that's fitting."

Upon hearing this, Murong Fu and others were greatly surprised. They thought Feng Yi undermining the enemy's prestige would surely cause chaos—yet these people didn't rebut; Wu Laoda even gathered with two others to discuss.

Duan Yu had once been on Wuliang Mountain and heard the name of Piaomiao Peak's Lingjiu Palace and Tianshan Tonglao, thinking: "The Shennong Gang leader, the goat-bearded Sikong Xuan, were also terrified of Tianshan Tonglao's Life and Death Talisman, to the point of jumping off cliffs to suicide—see how powerful this thing is."

Feng Yi didn't even look at them, saying: "I'm impatient—since you've decided to rebel, prepare to face Tianshan Tonglao—what's your plan? Say it now."

Wu Laoda turned to Feng Yi: "How did you know about the Life and Death Talisman?"

"I heard it, of course," Feng Yi said with a smile: "Isn't it seeking life but not getting it, seeking death but not getting it?"

Wu Laoda felt puzzled in his heart, silently nodding.

Buping Daoren glanced at Feng Yi, inwardly cursing his bad luck—he and Zhuo Bufan etc. came here not to help, nor under the talisman's control, but to seize the talisman and continue controlling and enslaving the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands. Seeing Feng Yi also know the talisman, he couldn't tell if their goals aligned.

He then said: "Mr. Wu, this is already clear—what are you still hiding?"

Wu Laoda hesitated a moment, then nodded: "Alas, as Feng Xia said, the life we've lived these years—even the ghosts suffering in Abi Hell would fare no better.

Since Great Hero Feng, Young Master Murong, Daoist Buping, Sword God Master Zhuo, and Immortal Furong are willing to help us escape our suffering, everyone is deeply grateful, and there is no need to conceal anything—our gathering is precisely to kill the Tianshan Tonglao and destroy the Lingjiu Palace on Piaomiao Peak!

Murong Fu glanced at Feng Yi, a faint smile on his handsome face, and said: "You all possess profound cultivation; even if faced with a great matter, you could handle it. Moreover, since Great Hero Feng has taken the lead, who in the present age could rival him? There is truly no need for me to shout assistance from the sidelines, getting in the way—I take my leave!"

Murong Fu and the others, being experienced, had already realized that whoever could control this group of demons and monsters was no ordinary person, and Daoist Buping, Sword God, and Immortal Furong surely had their own schemes; moreover, with Feng Yi present, whatever he did would merely be a foil—how could he be willing to help?

Daoist Buping smiled and said: "Young Master Murong, could it be that you fear the Tianshan Tonglao?"

Murong Fu coldly laughed: "Hehe, I have never even heard of the Lingjiu Palace on Piaomiao Peak, let alone speak of fear!"

"I merely have pressing matters and no grudge with the Tianshan Tonglao, so I am truly unable to assist! Farewell!"

"Wait!" Wu Laoda stretched out his hand to block.

Murong Fu said: "Master Wu, what do you wish to say?"

Wu Laoda said: "Young Master Murong, since you now know of our affairs, the life or death of the hundreds of people from the Thirty-six Caves and Seventy-two Islands rests entirely on your single thought."

Murong Fu said: "Do you not trust me?"

Wu Laoda said: "No, it is simply that the matter is too significant, and I dare not take such a risk."

Murong Fu coldly laughed: "Then you mean I cannot leave?"

Wu Laoda said: "Absolutely not."

Bao Butong shouted: "Do whatever you wish—we will not leak a single word! As the Murong family of Gusu has said, their words are never without consequence!

If you truly insist on detaining us, detaining me Bao Butong is easy, but could you possibly detain Young Master Murong?"

Wu Laoda knew this was the truth—Murong Fu was determined to leave, and they could not stop him—but now that their plot had been exposed, they were in a predicament, unable to back out, and merely remained silent, glancing furtively at Feng Yi and Daoist Buping to seek guidance.

Feng Yi smiled without speaking, instead pulling A Zi to sit beside him on a stone, closing his eyes to rest his spirit, for he would still need to act later.

A Zi asked curiously: "Big Brother, what is this Life and Death Talisman you mentioned?"

Feng Yi said: "It is the inner turmoil of these people, and also a cultivation technique—I will tell you about it later!"

The Life and Death Talisman originates from the Tianshan Six Yang Palms; Feng Yi naturally knows it and can dispel it, but he has no intention of showing favor to the other side, so he pays it no heed.

Although the Tianshan Tonglao's methods are cruel, these people are hardly any better.

As seen from their earlier teasing of Wang Yuyan and threatening Murong Fu, one can tell as much.

In other words, if Murong Fu were not highly skilled in cultivation, he would have merely stumbled into this by accident, and would Wang Yuyan, this flower, not have been harmed?

Where here is there a good person?

In truth, it is merely that worse people have met even worse ones.

A Zi pondered, then asked again: "Big Brother, what is your purpose in coming here?"

Feng Yi smiled faintly and said: "For a woman."

"You're talking nonsense!" A Zi glared at him.

Feng Yi smiled without speaking.

"Could it be that you are also here for Wang Yuyan?" A Zi demanded angrily: "My foolish brother, for her sake, is utterly bewildered and has abandoned all dignity—are you the same?"

"What nonsense!" Feng Yi shook his head and said: "Your brother saving people is also a good thing!"

"What good? A Zi does not understand: 'For the sake of the Murong family, you have brought shame upon the Duan family, and yet they still feel no gratitude.' Pointing at Wang Yuyan: 'Do you see her even glancing at him properly?'"

Feng Yi glanced over—Wang Yuyan gazed at Murong Fu with tender affection, Duan Yu stared foolishly at Wang Yuyan, set down his wine gourd, took a sip of wine, and said slowly: "You think your brother saving Wang Yuyan is wrong, merely because her status differs—what if she were your sister?"

"Would you not then think your brother saving people had brought shame upon the Duan family?"

A Zi's blood surged with anger as she shouted: "You are talking nonsense again—how could that be lumped together?"

Seeing her charm, Feng Yi pinched her nose and said: "Who told you I was speaking nonsense? You greatly underestimate the allure of my old father-in-law!"

A Zi snorted, then gave a hehe laugh: "If my father knew you were scheming against him, hum..."

She believed Feng Yi was entirely taking revenge for her father's coldness toward him.

Yet she did not know that Feng Yi would speak many truths in a joking manner.

While the two chatted here, they heard the crowd's applause like thunder, all shouting in unison: "Young Master Murong, righteous!" The atmosphere boiled over.

Originally, Wu Laoda saw that Murong Fu wished to leave, and though they tried to detain him, they could not—so they appealed for help, merely hoping to make him swear a great oath not to leak the secret, and that was that.

Who would have thought Murong Fu would readily agree, not only speaking with great courtesy, but also saying things like "From now on, we share weal and woe, help each other in hardship," truly becoming sworn brothers in life and death.

The Murong family of Gusu, famed throughout the land, had just proven their reputation in the earlier battle—indeed, they lived up to their name. With their aid, they gained another layer of advantage, and could not help but feel delighted and astonished, erupting in cheers.

Murong Fu originally did not wish to invite trouble, but he had vowed to overturn the world and restore the Great Yan hegemony; hearing Wu Laoda say that as long as they helped, they would receive great kindness and virtue, to be forever remembered...

The people of the Thirty-six Caves and Seventy-two Islands are not weak in cultivation—if he helped them, he could later employ them, so he immediately agreed to assist these people in eliminating the Tianshan Tonglao.

Feng Yi sat to one side, smiling silently, for he had long anticipated this. Murong Fu thought well of it—who would have thought that in the original plot, Xuzhu would ruin it, and now it seems the result is much the same—finally, an empty dream.

Wu Laoda, having gained Murong Fu as an ally, felt pleased, his gaze shifting to fall upon Feng Yi, seeing him chatting and laughing with A Zi.

Their eyes met; Wu Laoda hesitated a moment, then stepped forward and said: "Great Hero Feng, since Young Master Murong has agreed to assist us, are you to lend us a hand, or...?"

Feng Yi glanced at him lightly and said calmly: "I must first assess the situation, but I guarantee that before I make a decision, I will certainly not leave, nor will I leak your plot."

Daoist Buping said: "Master Wu, then please tell us about the Tianshan Tonglao—her person and her deeds—so we may all prepare better."

Wu Laoda nodded, pacing back and forth as he spoke loudly: "This Tianshan Tonglao sends people to us once or twice a year to scold us, cursing us until our heads run with dog's blood—truly not something a living person can endure.

You say we must be furious in our hearts when we hear her harsh rebukes? Yet no— the more severely her emissaries curse, the happier we become..."

Bao Butong could not help but interject: "How strange! Is this not masochism?"

Suddenly, Feng Yi said coldly: "Enough! Stop interrupting here at will, wasting everyone's time!"

Bao Butong's facial muscles twitched twice, he clenched his fists, gave a "hehe" laugh, and said no more. Normally, he would certainly retort immediately, but thinking that Feng Yi had saved Wang Yuyan, he decided to give him face.

Bao Butong is not intentionally seeking trouble—it is simply that what he cannot bear most is being unable to speak. As long as his tongue can still move freely, illness, pain, injury, hardship, disaster—all are nothing to him, so in the original plot, when Ding Chunqiu and You Tanzhi injured him, his mouth did not stop, and when Feng Yi injured him last time, it was the same.

Even being killed by Murong Fu in the original plot was due to this mouth of his.

Wu Laoda, to preserve Murong Fu's face, sighed: "Actually, you all do not know—if the emissaries sent by Tonglao do not curse us as grandsons and bastards, or curse our eighteen generations of ancestors, they will come to beat us; if fortunate, it is thirty blows of a heavy staff, as long as the legs are not broken, we mostly still hold a celebration to mark it. Alas, to have sunk to such a state as a person—truly base indeed!" Bao Butong felt pleased within, winked at Feng Yi, meaning: look, they really are this base—but in the end, they did not open their mouths.

Duan Yu suddenly shouted loudly: "How absurd! This Tianshan Tonglao runs rampant and tyrannical—is she not bullying people too much?"

The crowd turned to look at this boy, not knowing where he came from; many recalled his earlier movement and began whispering to one another.

Wu Laoda said: "This young master speaks very rightly. This Tonglao oppresses us, treating us worse than pigs and dogs. If she does not order people to come and beat our buttocks with big sticks, then she often lashes our backs with a python whip, or else drives several nails into our backs."

A gesture with the hand: "Sima Daozhu, you have the wounds from being whipped with the python whip; please show them to your friends."

A thin old man said: "Ashamed, ashamed!" He opened his clothes, and only saw six fresh red marks, three vertical and three horizontal, crisscrossing on his back, shocking to behold. When he suffered this at the time, he must have been in extreme pain.

A black-skinned man loudly said: "What is that? Look at the bone-piercing nails on my back!"

He turned his body, took off his clothes, and only saw three large iron nails driven into his upper back, the nails having rusted yellow, obviously having been there a long time; for some reason, this black-skinned man did not try to pull them out.

Feng Yi saw that they were nailed into the vital points on his upper back; without proper technique, removing them would inevitably disturb the acupoints, causing unbearable pain.

A Zi clicked her tongue in admiration: "Elder brother, this Tianshan Tonglao is even more vicious than the Xingxiu Laoguai; this time it's fun!"

The more she thought about it, the more amusing she found it; she could not help but beam with joy, her face full of delight. People saw this, yet did not hear her speak, and were utterly bewildered, not knowing what this little girl was happy about.

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Duan Yu had profound internal strength and extraordinary hearing; he heard what the girl said, felt both angry and amused, as if a raging fire surged through his marrow, his hot blood rose suddenly, and a heroic spirit arose; he shouted loudly: "Rebellion, rebellion! How can there be such a sinister and vicious person in the world?"

Wu Laoda, Duan Yu resolved to help; all of us united in effort, to eliminate this great scourge from the martial world.

He had always been kind to others; at this moment he actually volunteered, which was certainly due to Tonglao's cruel methods, and also to the girl's cold heart.

Wu Laoda said: "Thank you, Duan Gongzi, for your righteous assistance."

Then he said to Feng Yi: "Feng Xia was right just now; we people are indeed all ghosts, hehe, only fearing that the ghosts suffering in Abi Hell are no worse than this."

Murong Fu said: "You are all controlled by Tianshan Tonglao and unable to resist; is it because this old woman's martial arts are supremely strong, or is it that whenever we fight her, we always lose?"

Wu Laoda said: "The martial arts of this old hag are, of course, extremely formidable. But just how formidable she is, no one knows."

Murong Fu said: "Unfathomable?"

Wu Laoda nodded and said: "Unfathomable!"

Murong Fu glanced at Feng Yi, a divine light flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly laughed: "Feng Xia, this person seems to be your match; you had better be careful."

Feng Yi smiled: "Thank you."

Then he said to Wu Laoda: "Well, your situation has long been no secret; otherwise, how would Buping Daoren and the others have come here?"

Wu Laoda, you might as well say directly: you have endured this for so many years; why did you suddenly decide to rebel? Surely you must have some confidence, right?"

Only then did Wu Laoda sigh again: "You are right; in the past, everyone feared her cruel methods and could only endure in silence, suffering through the years. Fortunately, heaven has eyes; this old hag, though tyrannical all her life, also has her unlucky times."

Murong Fu asked: "What happened?"

This time Wu Laoda raised his eyebrows, his spirits lifted, and he spoke leisurely.

Originally, on the second day of the fifth month this year, Wu Laoda, together with An Dongzhu of Fengfeng Cave, Qin Daozhu of Horsemeat Island, and nine others taking turns in service, had purchased pearls, jewels, fine silks, mountain delicacies and seafood, rouge and flower powder, and sent them up to Piaomiao Peak of Tianshan.

Because some items were too rare to be found no matter what. We thought we had not prepared according to instructions, and expected severe punishment. Who would have thought that Tianshan Tonglao only sent someone to deliver a message, saying: 'The purchased items are passable, but you nine grandsons, bastards, quickly tuck your tails between your legs and roll down the peak.'

Wu Laoda and the others, as if granted a great pardon, came to the foot of Piaomiao Peak, removed the black cloth covering their eyes, and found three people dead at the mountain's base, one of whom was Jiuyi Daoren, a master of the Western Xia Yipintang.

Speaking of this, A Zi could not help but laugh: "Why do you blindfold your eyes with black cloth?"

Wu Laoda said: "Miss, you do not know; every time we go up to Piaomiao Peak, we are blindfolded with black cloth, perhaps because they do not wish to see whether those women are beautiful or ugly, old or young."

Murong Fu said: "If that is the case, what kind of person is Tianshan Tonglao exactly? Have you ever seen her?"

Wu Laoda sighed, and then revealed the reason.

Originally, twenty-three years ago, someone secretly opened the black blindfold, glanced at Tianshan Tonglao, and before he could cover his eyes again, his eyes were gouged out, his tongue cut off, and both arms severed.

When this was said, not only did Murong Fu and the others feel a chill in their hearts, but A Zi also felt that Tianshan Tonglao was too cruel; treating people this way, how could they not rebel?

Murong Fu pondered: "Gouging out the eyes, that might be tolerable, but cutting off the tongue and severing the arms—how could that be?"

Wu Laoda said: "If I am not mistaken, it is to prevent that person from leaking the old hag's appearance; cutting off the tongue so he cannot speak, severing the arms so he cannot write."

Everyone was moved; is a matter of appearance worth such treatment?

Feng Yi thought: "How could the exalted Tianshan Tonglao allow people to know she is a dwarf?"

He also thought: If Tianshan Tonglao were not a dwarf, she would probably not stay peacefully in Tianshan; the martial world would surely be overrun by her.

Bao Butong, fearing neither heaven nor earth, was also frightened and stuck out his tongue, saying: "Damn it, damn it! Fierce, fierce!"

The Murong family naturally understood what he meant by 'fierce'; that is, even if this old hag killed me, it would be tolerable, but if she cut off my tongue, that would be disastrous.

Feng Yi glanced at him and suddenly asked: "You said Tianshan Tonglao has met with misfortune; how did you come to know this?"

Wu Laoda recounted again: Originally, Jiuyi Daoren had two sword wounds on his body, which made them realize something was wrong.

Because they regularly lure one or two masters to the Piaomiao Peak area every so often, to let Tianshan Tonglao indulge her killing urge.

And each time she kills, she uses only one move; how could there be a reason to strike twice at an opponent? Moreover, they were inept in their duties, yet Tianshan Tonglao did not even punish them, which greatly deviated from past practice.

But saying this, Bao Butong could not help but interject: "Wu Dongzhu, you say Tianshan Tonglao kills without a second move; against ordinary foes it is certainly easy, but if she encounters a true master, could she also kill with one move?"

For example, this Feng Xia—perhaps someone in the world could still win against him in one move and a half, but who could kill him with one move? I, Bao Butong, ten thousand times do not believe it; this statement is exaggerated, exaggerated! Utterly hard to believe."

Feng Yi also thought this reasonable, so he did not stop him.

Wu Laoda also saw that this Bao Butong just loved to argue, and did not bother with him further, continuing his narration.

They saw that Jiuyi Daoren bore wounds, doubted, and then looked at the other two corpses, also covered in wounds, clearly the result of fierce struggles.

The nine people felt this matter was strange. Although they feared Tianshan Tonglao, they feared the torment of the Life and Death Talisman even more, and thought that man must die; even if Tonglao's abilities were supreme, she could not have cultivated to perfection and attained an indestructible diamond body. So several people decided: first, let the one with the highest lightness skill, An Dongzhu, sneak into Piaomiao Peak to investigate.

After three hours, An Dongzhu returned to the agreed place, saying he heard the maidservants talking and learned that Tianshan Tonglao was seriously ill and had gone out to gather medicine.

These people felt this was of great importance and needed full certainty; after waiting two days, the nine went up to Piaomiao Peak together again, and this time they again heard women talking, more firmly convinced that Tianshan Tonglao was indeed seriously ill. However, they could not find the whereabouts of the Life and Death Talisman, and thought that if this scourge were not removed,

even if Tonglao died, others holding the Life and Death Talisman would still have us slaves continue to serve; how could that be acceptable? Immediately forgetting the reverence to keep distant from Tonglao, they gave rise to the intention to rebel and kill the old hag.

Bao Butong again asked curiously: "What exactly is the Life and Death Talisman?"

Wu Laoda, however, did not wish to speak further of the 'Life and Death Talisman', turned his head, and loudly said to everyone: "The old hag's serious illness is absolutely certain."

Everyone had long known that Tonglao was ill and had come to gather; yet hearing Wu Laoda mention it again, they were still overjoyed, cheering and leaping.

Wu Laoda pressed his hands down: "We want to turn the tables and escape hardship; we only need to summon courage and fight desperately. However, whether the old hag has already returned to Lingjiu Palace on Piaomiao Peak, we cannot know.

How we should act from now on requires everyone to discuss together. Especially Feng Xia, Buping Daoren, Murong Gongzi, Duan Gongzi—if you have any superior opinions, please do not hesitate to instruct us."

Duan Yu saw them rejoicing at the misfortune, gloating over disaster, and felt dissatisfied, saying: "Earlier I heard that Tianshan Tonglao was strong, violent, and domineering, bullying you all; in my heart I felt indignant, and resolved to go up to Piaomiao Peak to reason with this old lady."

But since she is ill, taking advantage of her misfortune is not what a gentleman does. Let alone saying I have no lofty views, even if I did, I would not say so.

Feng Yi laughed and said: "My brother-in-law is a true gentleman. Since Mr. Wu and the others have ascended Piaomiao Peak, they surely would not return empty-handed? Or are they hiding it?"

Wu Laoda's face showed satisfaction as he said: "Don't blame me for not telling you, Great Hero Feng, but upon reaching Piaomiao Peak, I indeed captured someone!

Everyone shouted in unison: "Wu Laoda is amazing!"

"Truly a hero and a brave man!"

"Among the Thirty-six Caves and Seventy-two Islands, you, Wu Laoda, are the foremost immortal!"

Wu Laoda waved his hand: "Come, come, bring it over!"

Amid the cheers, mixed with sobbing sounds, one of Wu Laoda's men stepped forward carrying a black cloth bag, placed it before him.

Wu Laoda untied the bag's cord, pressed the opening down, and a person emerged from within.

Everyone gasped: "Ah!"—seeing that the person was very small, indeed a young girl.

Feng Yi finally awaited the main figure's appearance, carefully observing the girl, seeing her curled on the ground, petite in stature, about the height of a seven- or eight-year-old child, hands pressed to her face, sobbing softly, like an injured bird.

Seeing her demeanor, Feng Yi thought: this is actually the hegemon of Tianshan, Tianshan Tonglao, now reduced to loud weeping for her life. Truly, it fits the saying: a dragon in shallow waters is mocked by shrimp, a tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs. In her original storyline, if she did not die, would she not have killed everyone who witnessed this scene?

Finding it indeed amusing, he burst into loud laughter, his voice extremely joyful, and everyone who heard it was astonished.

The girl unintentionally lifted her head; Feng Yi's gaze met hers, as if he saw pain, fury, and despair in her expression, thinking: "Indeed, if she does not escape and drink blood, her true energy will boil by noon tomorrow, and she will suffer qi deviation, meet a miserable end!"

Wu Laoda suppressed his anger and said: "Great Hero Feng, what are you laughing at?"

He felt he had taken great risk to capture someone from Lingjiu Palace, a major achievement, yet he was not praised but laughed at instead—too disrespectful of himself.

Feng Yi saw his anger but deliberately shifted the topic: "What need is there to say? I naturally laugh at your fine skills."

"How good?" A Zi spat: "These people are actually quite suitable to join the Xingxiu Sect."

The girl wiped her tears with both hands, secretly glancing at A Zi once; though she tried to hide it, Feng Yi's perception could not be evaded.

Bao Butong laughed: "Are they all shameless and thick-faced?"

Wu Laoda stared, then shouted: "What did you say?"

A Zi giggled: "I see you complacent, thinking you've done some great deed?

In fact, you only captured a girl who cannot even truss a chicken, yet this crowd still blows their own horns, calling themselves amazing—could these heroes and brave men be merely self-proclaimed by you lot?"

Duan Yu, seeing the girl looked only seven or eight years old, had already been filled with righteous indignation; hearing his sister say that, he immediately shouted: "Not bad, you guys dealing with Tianshan Tonglao is fine enough—why bully a little girl?" The girl cried and glanced at Duan Yu once more.

Duan Yu spoke gently: "Little girl, don't be afraid; my brother-in-law has great abilities, you will surely be fine."

Feng Yi held his breath, coughed several times urgently.

Wu Laoda, however, laughed it off, taking no offense.

He knew these people did not know Tianshan Tonglao's terror, nor the depth and magnitude of the calamity she brought upon him; since they could not empathize, how could they understand the feeling of attacking a little girl? He said: "You are all great heroes, mighty warriors, and heroes, but Piaomiao Peak is extremely perilous; we merely infiltrated it, which already required great courage, and our final reach was nothing short of heart-stopping!

I fear no laughter from you; when we captured this girl, she merely grabbed and collapsed, yet I too went weak in the legs and sat down.

I am not injured, but frightened out of my wits!

Hehe, as long as one is struck by Tonglao's Life and Death Talisman, no matter who they are, they may not necessarily be stronger than me!"

His expression was stern, indeed showing quite a bit of mettle.

Everyone cheered again.

"Wu Laoda is right!"

"Others just stand and talk without back pain; if you have the ability, try enduring a Life and Death Talisman yourself—don't say it's unrelated to a little girl, even if it were your own daughter, you might not refrain from striking her!"

Duan Yu's face turned alternately green and red, unable to speak, for he recalled the chief of Shennong Gang, who, having failed to complete Tianshan Tonglao's task and fearing the Life and Death Talisman, directly jumped off a cliff to his death—this thing is clearly not easy to deal with.

Feng Yi also furrowed his brows.

Buping Daoren said: "Mr. Wu, you have captured this girl—what do you intend to do with her?"

Wu Laoda sighed: "After we captured this girl and descended the peak, we repeatedly interrogated her; alas, she is a mute. We initially thought she was feigning deafness and muteness, tried many methods, sometimes suddenly shouting behind her to see if she would startle—after repeated attempts, it turned out she truly cannot speak."

Hearing the girl's sobs, "ya ya ya," everyone agreed it was indeed the voice of a mute.

Someone in the crowd asked: "Wu Laoda, she cannot speak—can she write?"

Wu Laoda shook his head; it turned out they had already used torture, water immersion, burning, starvation, and every means, only to conclude she was not stubborn but truly unable.

Feng Yi thought: "So Tianshan Tonglao suffered all this, she used the Life and Death Talisman to torment others, yet now she herself has been subjected to it. One must say, this is also poetic justice."

Duan Yu could not help but say: "You actually used such cruel means to torment a little girl—how shameless!"

"Cruel?" Wu Laoda laughed: "In this world, is there anyone more cruel than Tianshan Tonglao?

This little child suffering this karmic retribution—she alone is to blame for being a person of Piaomiao Peak's Lingjiu Palace; this is one revenge for another—what shame is there?"

Duan Yu said: "If you seek revenge against Tianshan Tonglao, what use is there in attacking her little servant girl?"

Feng Yi said faintly: "There is naturally a use—with so many people, they may not be able to unite wholeheartedly; good, we can use her blood to seal a blood oath!"

"Great Hero Feng's lofty view!"

(End of chapter)