Chapter 225

As soon as the Heavenly Mountain Granny spoke those words, Feng Yi's heart stirred like ripples on a lake. Only he himself knew why he had followed Duan Yu and Murong Fu's party all the way here to Miaoxiang Peak.

It was nothing other than for the Mei-Lan-Zhu-Ju quadruplets.

Upon seeing the true person today, he indeed felt a stir of desire,

Just now, lost in thought over Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju, he had taken the Granny's hand—not because he was blatantly staring at the ladies' faces, but because he was wondering how he could enjoy the blessings of sharing beauties.

After all, this concerns not only the Granny and Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju; A Zi must not be overlooked either.

Naturally, we needed to work on A Zi properly so she could accept it, but who would have thought that before we could settle it, the Granny outright proposed it.

Sure enough, before Feng Yi could speak, A Zi jumped up in agitation: "Granny, how could that be?"

The Granny raised her brows: "Why not? For a man, having three wives and four concubines is commonplace; do you really want to end up like me?"

"Granny," A Zi pouted, wanting to say more, but seeing the Granny's face turn cold, she swallowed her words.

A Zi's father, Duan Zhengchun, already had a wife, then took her mother and Qin Hongmian among others; A Zi naturally knew this.

Yet when it came to her own father, she didn't think much of it; but when it involved her beloved, it was another matter.

No one in this world can hold everyone to a single standard.

So-called double standards are simply the most normal thing in the world.

Those who constantly criticize double-standard behavior are in fact the biggest double-standard practitioners.

Because they themselves cannot possibly treat every matter and every person with the same attitude and impartiality?

If they cannot, how is that not a double standard?

What right do they have to demand others avoid double standards?

It's like a true crow landing on a pig's back—unable to see its own blackness.

Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju are all lovely beauties, identical in appearance; A Zi personally saw Feng Yi's expression, which was far more ardent than when he first met her. Upon hearing the Granny's intention to betroth them to Feng Yi, a sour feeling welled up inside her, churning her chest, and she already began plotting how to harm Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju.

Although Duan Yu is A Zi's brother, he doesn't care about this matter.

Because their father is like that, he is too.

Initially Duan Yu loved Mu Wanqing, but since they are siblings they could not be together; after arriving in Jiangnan, he fell for Wang Yuyan.

Thus, since Feng Yi now has a sister and also fancies Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju, he feels they are kindred spirits; if the sister disagreed, letting Feng Yi suffer lovesickness just like him would be even more opportunistic, allowing the two to indulge their feelings to the fullest—how wonderful!

The Mei-Lan-Zhu-Ju quartet had no objection whatsoever to the Granny's words; all eight eyes stared curiously at Feng Yi.

Seeing Feng Yi silent for a moment, the Granny's eyes flashed like lightning as she fixed her gaze on his face and smiled: "What's the matter? Is it hard to answer?"

Feng Yi glanced at A Zi and saw her eyes bloodshot, she was fuming, and his heart pounded wildly.

This was the first time Feng Yi had ever felt shame; he feared that speaking the truth would provoke this sharp-tongued maiden into doing something irreparable.

Yet the Granny said: "Feng Yi, I ask only once—today's matter, today decided. If you don't speak today, never mention it again; perhaps tomorrow you won't see them at all."

Feng Yi knew the Granny's word is bond; he steeled himself, gave A Zi an apologetic smile, and said: "Granny, I must admit you've struck my soft spot. As the ancients said, to have all four beauties is to lack nothing—how could I not desire it?"

"That's wrong!" Duan Yu shook his head: "Feng Brother, the ancients' phrase 'four beauties hard to come together' from Xie Lingyun's line 'Fine time, beautiful scenery, pleasing heart, joyful event—four beauties rarely coincide' refers not to beauties at all!"

Feng Yi smiled: "Brother Duan, your learning is known to me, but I am merely a martial man of the jianghu, not a literary master; besides, when facing beauties, I see no need to be so rigid—just respond to the scene and the feeling, right?"

Duan Yu blinked, then clasped his hands and laughed: "That's the reasoning, thank you for the pointers, Brother Feng."

Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju chuckled.

"Shameless!" A Zi snapped angrily: "The host is speaking—what are you laughing at? How improper!"

The quartet stuck out their tongues; Lan Jian smiled: "We'll just not laugh, Miss Duan—why get angry?"

Zhu Jian added: "But if the Granny says we are to be someone's wife, then it's settled."

Ju Jian said: "What else can be done about it?"

A Zi fumed: "Big Brother, look—these four sisters are all quick-tongued; if you marry them, will I have any livelihood left?"

Suddenly the Granny laughed: "Acting on one's true nature is what makes a genuine person; this is indeed a fine young man."

A Zi's heart sank: "It seems the Granny really agrees!"

But seeing the Granny's face turn serious, she said: "Very well, since you have something in mind, if you agree to one thing for me, I, as the Granny, will give you these four as wives."

Feng Yi was overjoyed and hurriedly asked: "What is it?"

The Granny gave Duan Yu a sideways glance: "Take him downstairs to rest!"

"Yes!" Granny Yu and the others took Duan Yu away.

Sure enough, Feng Yi immediately felt uneasy; there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Then the Granny said: "I don't want you to do anything; merely, once my divine skill is restored, I will certainly seek out that wretch Li Qiu Shui to settle our grudges."

I and that wretch will duel; the outcome hinges on a thread.

For her to defeat me is certainly difficult, and for me to kill her is no easy feat, but my chances of victory are greater.

But since she is injured and has retreated to Western Xia, where they outnumber us, I want you to go with me—don't let anyone interfere in my affair with that wretch; as long as I kill her, I'll immediately grant your wish!

Trading Li Qiu Shui's life for Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju is not a hard choice, yet it leaves Feng Yi deeply troubled; he sighed and said: "Granny, I dare not conceal it—formerly I did all this for A Zi, merely to get Master Wu Ya Zi to impart her inner strength…"

A Zi's heart warmed.

"…He old man clearly knew my intentions, accepted my shortcut, and not only passed the sect leadership to me, but also transferred all his inner strength to A Zi."

I deeply appreciate his kindness, knowing Li Qiu Shui is hardly a lovable person; I once intended to avenge him.

Therefore I asked Master Wu Ya Zi whether he hated her; he replied that he was at fault first, bore no grudge against Li Qiu Shui, and even considered sending his disciple to seek her out for martial guidance.

You say Master Wu Ya Zi left such a testament—how could I then go with you to kill Li Qiu Shui?

The Granny listened, showing a hint of surprise; Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju exchanged glances.

"Yes, yes." A Zi chimed in: "I was there at the time, and I even said Grandmaster Wu Ya Zi was foolish."

She was hoping Feng Yi would not succeed with Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju.

The Granny raised her brows and said: "Wu Ya Zi is foolish—are you just as foolish? That wretch Li Qiu Shui, surely she deserves to be killed?"

Furthermore, if you refuse, I will immediately marry off Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju—I want to see whether you are sentimental or heartless.

Feng Yi laughed and shook his head: "Tong Lao, this has nothing to do with whether I am affectionate or not. The reason I could let A Zi receive Mister Wuya Zi's favor is precisely because I am not a proper gentleman."

Speaking of killing, hehe, I kill as easily as cutting grass; I don't judge solely by good and evil, right and wrong, but only by one's position and stance.

But since both A Zi and I have received Mister Wuya Zi's favor, yet we disregard his dying wishes, seeking only the benefits you give—what kind of person does that make me, Feng Yi?

That would be too despicable!

Although I am not a gentleman, I am not a villain who forgets righteousness for profit; moreover, if I were truly a vile villain who sacrifices principles for beauty and uses any means, would your condition still have any meaning?

"Very good." Tong Lao put her hands on her hips: "Then don't regret it, A Zi, come with me!" After saying that, she swept her wide sleeve, leapt up—she seemed to rise and fall yet not really rise and fall, seemed to exert effort yet not really exert effort, like willow fluff in the wind, as if never touching the ground, yet her speed was extremely fast; in the blink of an eye she was already ten zhang away.

Tong Lao's condition for Feng Yi was based on the premise that he is not a villain; but since Mister Wuya Zi said he bears no grudge against Li QiuShui and has no intention of killing her, if we force him, it would be like trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to bait it, putting ourselves in a strange predicament.

Because she can force Feng Yi to betray his benefactor, if others also gave him benefits and had him deal with her, would that be the case?

A Zi glanced at Mei Jian, Lan Jian, Zhu Jian, and Ju Jian, pursed her little lips and said, "Granny, wait for me!" After saying that, she ignored Feng Yi, leapt a few times, and caught up with Tong Lao.

Feng Yi did not stop her; he knew A Zi was willful and at this moment was angry, so whatever he said would be in vain.

All we can do is wait until later, then use Father-in-Law Duan Zhengchun's personal experience to analyze the pros and cons for A Zi.

Everyone followed the small path up to the peak, climbing higher and higher; it was near dusk now—the towering Heavenly Mountains, the beautiful and colorful peaks, clad in brilliant, dancing rosy clouds, embracing the vast, rolling sea of clouds, a majestic scene beyond words, lofty and heroic.

Feng Yi had never been to the Heavenly Mountains before, never seen such a marvel; he couldn't help but feel his spirits soar, and he burst out laughing.

The women looked at each other, and Mei Jian asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Feng Yi said, "I once heard that the Heavenly Mountains range is both ancient and young; I never expected to enjoy it today, discovering that it secretly accords with Tong Lao—shouldn't I laugh?"

Lan Jian said coldly, "Why don't you listen to Granny's words?"

Ju Jian said, "Don't you want us to be your wives?"

Zhu Jian furrowed her brow slightly and said in a low voice, "Sister, you're talking nonsense again."

Ju Jian puffed up her lips and protested, "How is that nonsense? Granny wants us to marry him—it's just killing a person, why does he refuse?"

"Ju Jian, you're still saying that?" Mei Jian's eyebrows rose like willow leaves, her eyes frosty; Ju Jian held her tongue, but tears welled in her eyes.

Feng Yi saw her crimson little lips turn up, revealing a touch of playful charm, her tear-filled eyes making her all the more pitiable, and he said, "What's killing a person, after all? But a true man knows what to do and what not to do."

Mei Jian said, "Granny says you are also the lord of the Spirit Vulture Palace, naturally our lord as well; not allowing us to be your wives must mean she thinks we are unworthy of you—what else is there to say?" Saying this, she burst into tears like Ju Jian, tears streaming down, as if she had become another person.

No one knew whether the four sisters shared some psychic link, but Lan Jian and Zhu Jian also had tears streaming down their faces.

Yu Po and the other women found it amusing, yet dared not laugh.

Feng Yi sighed, "How could I not like you? It's just that the matter between Tong Lao and Li QiuShui is hard to put into words."

If it were something else, even if I had to pluck the moon from the heavens, I would certainly manage it.

Feng Yi knew that Tong Lao and Li QiuShui had loved Mister Wuya Zi for several decades, yet Mister Wuya Zi's subtle feelings toward his younger sister-in-law had also persisted for decades; even on his deathbed, asking him whom he truly loved yielded no answer. Thus, whether Tong Lao or Li QiuShui, using Li QiuShui's lament from the original story on her deathbed—"Senior sister, we have fought a lifetime, yet we are both pitiful souls."

Moreover, the day Feng Yi injured Li QiuShui without killing her, he hoped that the grudge between Tong Lao and Li QiuShui would end there.

And Tong Lao might not be unaware of this—she did that first, then later presented Mei Jian, Lan Jian, Zhu Jian, and Ju Jian, and he agreed to help her kill Li QiuShui; what kind of person does that make him?

Perhaps Tong Lao was momentarily blinded by her hatred for Li QiuShui and failed to see this, but once she realizes it, she will truly have become a piece of filthy dog dung.

Therefore Feng Yi could not possibly agree to this.

He is like a horse that has entered a narrow alley, with no way to turn back.

Although Mei Jian, Lan Jian, Zhu Jian, and Ju Jian did not know what Feng Yi was thinking, nor did they know the grudges among Tong Lao, Mister Wuya Zi, and Li QiuShui, seeing his wistful expression, they clearly did not look down on them; indeed, they all burst into tears and then laughed.

Feng Yi saw that they would cry at the drop of a hat and laugh at the drop of a hat, a talent on par with A Zi; he glanced at the four women and said with a half-smile, "Ladies, if not for Tong Lao's command, would you still be willing to be my wives?"

The women, pressed by his gaze, stepped back and exchanged a glance; Lan Jian said, "We four sisters are Tong Lao's maidservants; it is only right that we should sacrifice ourselves for her, and whenever she speaks, being anyone's wife is our duty."

The four sisters—Mei Jian, Lan Jian, Zhu Jian, and Ju Jian—are naturally playful and endearing, but Tong Lao's temperament is strict; the slightest displeasure brings immediate harsh punishment, so the sisters tremble and dare not act wantonly. Feng Yi is easygoing and unpretentious, so the sisters say whatever comes to mind without any reservation.

Feng Yi's expression was quite subtle; he felt his question was superfluous, said nothing, and headed straight for the peak.

The women noticed he suddenly seemed a bit downcast; Lan Jian could not hold back and asked, "Are you not happy?"

Feng Yi replied lightly, "Of course; as a proper man, I thought I could win you as wives with my own charm—who knew it would all depend on Tong Lao? How could I not be disappointed? How could it not be disheartening?"

The women's faces flushed, both angry and amused; Mei Jian gave him a sideways glance and said, "I've heard the sisters of the Spirit Vulture Palace say that men who are capable and smooth-talking are no good—they specialize in deceiving women."

Most of the women of the Spirit Vulture Palace have been hurt by men; rescued by Tong Lao in her direst times, they feel grateful to her and thus hate men all the more; the four sisters have never descended from Ethereal Peak, never seen a man, yet they have heard plenty.

Feng Yi looked at Mei Jian and smiled, "Plum blossoms brave the snow, exude beauty and fragrance in the cold, with iron bones and an icy heart—do you say that's good or not?"

Mei Jian said, "Naturally it's good; Granny gave me the name Mei Jian, hoping I would be like a plum blossom—unyielding and brave, taking the lead!"

Feng Yi said, "That's settled then; I think you appear gentle on the outside, but inside you have iron bones and an icy heart. Could Granny have given you the wrong name?"

Mei Jian raised her elegant brows: "How could that be? How could Granny be wrong?"

"That's only natural!" Feng Yi laughed. "So you can't judge a person by appearance alone; you must also look within."

Lan Jian puffed her cheeks and said in a clear voice, "You've gone all around just to say you're a good person, haven't you?"

Feng Yi laughed heartily: "I'm not exactly a good person, but at least I'm not a bad one, especially toward the women I like."

The women laughed merrily, showing Feng Yi the various spots along the way to Ethereal Peak; before they knew it, they had reached the summit of Ethereal Peak, amidst clouds and mist, gazing out to see nothing but pine trees.

Only see, a grand avenue paved with blue stone slabs stretches underground; each slab is about eight chi long and three chi wide, very orderly. To pave such an avenue would be a massive undertaking, obviously the work of skilled craftsmen.

As they walked, on both sides of the blue stone avenue stood women in green robes, swords in hand; after walking about two li, they reached the end of the stone path, where a huge stone fortress rose majestically, on each side of the gate a stone-carved fierce eagle, over three zhang tall, with sharp beak and massive claws, extraordinarily spirited.

Feng Yi exclaimed with great feeling, "To actually build such a castle on this lofty peak is truly astonishing!"

Along the way, they passed many perilous spots; an ordinary person would have long since fallen into that abyss of ten thousand zhang, yet someone could actually construct such a massive structure here—one can only imagine the immense labor and material resources expended, and how many lives were lost; it's simply unimaginable.

Mei Jian said, "We heard Granny say this was left behind by the former owner hundreds of years ago; that person surely had everyone's obedience and didn't need to lift a finger, so naturally he didn't mind the expense."

Feng Yi said nothing.

Because these women, with their 'I alone am supreme' nature, show no pity for outsiders as long as it's not their own kin; that is naturally not what he had in mind.

Because what he spoke of were not those powerful, influential bigwigs, but the ordinary folk who, to make a living, have to buckle down and work hard.

Throughout the ages, talented people emerge; even at the pinnacle, there are a few such individuals.

After leading Feng Yi into the stone fortress, they found inside a separate world, with several courtyards; arriving at one lodge, Mei Jian said, "Please, sir, rest; I will prepare dinner for you."

Feng Yi saw them enter the fortress, immediately became respectful, knowing he feared Tong Lao might hear, he secretly amused himself and said, "Then thank you!"

Mei Jian and Zhu Jian turned and went out the door; Lan Jian and Ju Jian served tea and snacks to Feng Yi; Feng Yi simply ate a few bites, and not long after Mei Jian and Zhu Jian brought the meal.

Feng Yi asked: "Where is Granny? Isn't she eating with us?"

Mei Jian said: "Granny instructed that after you finish your meal, we will take you to the stone wall to study martial arts."

"Good, good, let's eat together." Feng Yi said with a smile, but in his heart he wondered: "The old lady clearly knows I like the four swords, yet she lets them accompany me—does she not fear I'll steal food? Or is she testing me? This old lady's behavior is truly bizarre!" Mei Jian, Lan Jian, Zhu Jian, and Ju Jian dared not eat with him, only standing by to serve; Feng Yi also couldn't force them.

In the hall, candlelight flickered red, red sleeves added fragrance; Feng Yi enjoyed the feast immensely. The food alone would have been fine, but having four beauties attend him was a first; he praised the food without end, eating three big bowls of rice, and the dishes were completely cleaned out by him.

The four women covered their mouths and laughed; Ju Jian said: "Granny said you are the head of the Carefree School, yet you look like you haven't eaten."

Feng Yi laughed: "This food's flavor—let alone the head of the Carefree School, even the old emperor doesn't have such fortune."

"Not right!" Mei Jian frowned slightly and said: "Granny said the emperor's son has everyone obeying his call; how could he not have such good food?"

"That's wrong!" Feng Yi laughed: "Could the old emperor have you four ladies serving him at meals? I doubt it!"

The few women then came to their senses; Lan Jian laughed: "If you like it, we'll get some more."

Feng Yi hurriedly said: "I'm full; you go eat too, and later we'll practice martial arts together for fun!"

After Mei Jian, Lan Jian, Zhu Jian, and Ju Jian had eaten, they guided Feng Yi to the garden, operated the mechanism, moved aside a fake mountain, and revealed the entrance to a passage.

Mei Jian raised a torch, leading the way; the five proceeded single file. Along the way Mei Jian repeatedly pressed the mechanism in concealed spots, preventing the pre-set hidden-weapon traps from triggering.

=9+book bar

That passage twisted and turned, spiraling downward; at times it suddenly opened up, revealing a huge stone cavern, showing that the passage was carved along a natural cave in the mountain's interior.

Upon arriving here, Feng Yi naturally had plenty of intimate moments with the four women, but I won't elaborate.

After going more than two li, Mei Jian reached out and pushed aside a rock on the left, letting it stay to one side, and said: "Inside are stone wall images left by the former owner hundreds of years ago, containing profound martial arts; the maidservants dare not enter."

Feng Yi nodded: "The martial arts catalog inside requires deep inner strength as a foundation; without sufficient inner strength, viewing it is harmful and useless. But the outer passage is too narrow, standing is uncomfortable; you come in and sit, no need to look at the wall carvings!"

The four women looked at each other in dismay; Mei Jian said: "No wonder Granny once told us sisters that if we four sisters serve loyally, commit no faults, and diligently cultivate, then when we reach forty we would be allowed to come to this stone chamber one day each year to study the martial arts carved on the wall—turns out it's because our inner strength is insufficient."

Lan Jian said: "Granny is doing this for our own good."

Feng Yi nodded: "Granny isn't always as fierce as she appears."

The four women nodded, and the five entered the stone chamber, only to see the four walls' rock polished smooth; the stone wall is covered with countless circles about a foot in diameter, each containing various patterns—some human figures, some beast shapes, some incomplete characters, and some merely marks and lines.

Beside the circles are annotations like "Jia one", "Jia two", "Zi one", "Zi two", etc.; if the number of circles does not exceed a thousand, there are at least eight or nine hundred—impossible to take them all in at a glance.

Zhu Jian said: "Sir, would you like to look at the diagram of Jia one first?"

Feng Yi nodded: "Close your eyes." The five raised their torches, and the four women closed their eyes.

Upon looking at the circle labeled "Jia one", Feng Yi recognized the drawing inside as the starting posture of the first move of the Tianshan Plucking Plum Hand; looking at Jia two, it was the second move of Tianshan Plucking Plum Hand; proceeding in order, after the diagrams of Tianshan Plucking Plum Hand were finished came the diagrams of the Tianshan Six Yang Palm.

All the various song-formula secrets transmitted by Elder Wuya in the past are fully recorded in the circles; as for the martial arts techniques after the Tianshan Six Yang Palm on the stone wall, Feng Yi has not learned them.

At this time Feng Yi focused on observing the "Tianshan Six Yang Palm" in preparation for later eliminating the death symbols of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands.

He closed his eyes, turned his vision inward, regulated his internal breath; soon his thoughts stilled, his breath ceased, and his body felt light as if about to rise, when suddenly he heard two cries of "ah, ah".

Feng Yi startled and turned his head, only to see Lan Jian and Zhu Jian swaying, then collapsing; Mei Jian and Ju Jian held onto the stone wall, their faces paled, swaying on the verge of falling.

Feng Yi hastily withdrew his energy, helped Lan Jian and Zhu Jian up, placed his palms on their backs, and a surge of thick, warm inner strength flowed through them; the two women immediately felt their pain ease.

Mei Jian said: "We… out of curiosity… ended up looking at these… these patterns… I… we were waiting outside."

Feng Yi then infused the two women with true qi; their faces instantly calmed, and all four exclaimed in unison: "Thank you, sir, for expending your energy to heal us, maidservants." They bowed and kowtowed in gratitude.

Feng Yi helped them up, secretly sighing: "People sometimes know that beauty is poisonous yet cannot resist the temptation—myself included, and they are too." He said: "It was my negligence."

He understood human nature well, knowing that all martial artists covet secret manuals to the point of betraying and killing their masters, turning spouses against each other—let alone being able to see them with open eyes.

Yet he still brought them in; this is just like Elder Tong asking the four women about himself.

This test targets human weakness.

Feng Yi ultimately possesses deep inner strength and high resolve; things he does not wish to do are like a dam standing firm, impossible to breach his heart's defenses.

For example, though he claims to be lustful, he actually has principles and selectivity; take Xiao Longnv and Wang Yuyan—such beauties, though beautiful, are already devoted to others; to win them would require great effort and unscrupulous means, which he would not take.

Thus they can be regarded as fleeting clouds, causing no ripple.

Of course, this is also his principle of seeking practical benefit.

If the Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum swords were not blindly obedient to Elder Tong, needing him to win them over with sincerity, he might just turn and leave.

This is Feng Yi.

He likes beautiful women.

But beautiful women are merely his seasoning, not the whole.

Seeing Feng Yi deeply self-reproachful, the four women felt uneasy inside.

Mei Jian said: "Sir, this has nothing to do with you!" The four swords again bowed and pleaded guilty, saying in unison: "It's all the maidservants' reckless misconduct."

Ju Jian said: "Sir, your profound inner strength makes practicing these profound arts greatly beneficial. Granny often stays in the stone chamber for months without leaving, simply pondering the wall's diagrams."

Feng Yi nodded: "When the time comes, I will transmit a profound inner art to you; if your progress is swift, you will certainly be able to learn these martial arts by thirty."

The four women instantly rejoiced and again wanted to thank Feng Yi.

Feng Yi helped them up and said: "Let's go out and rest now."

The five exited the stone cave; it was already deep night and quiet. Feng Yi was led into a room, and the four women prepared to attend to his bathing and changing clothes.

Feng Yi was greatly tempted, yet still refused.

He felt that since Ah Zi was here, regardless of whether she agreed, he first needed to make his feelings clear—this is the bare minimum of respect.

After all, Feng Yi knows his own virtue; letting these four beauties help him bathe is certainly not just bathing.

Moreover, if having these four beauties bathe him were truly just bathing, that would be too bestial.

The four women saw Feng Yi refuse; though unhappy, they could only leave resentfully.

Feng Yi washed up, lay down on the bed, quickly fell asleep—he hadn't had a peaceful rest in a long time.

The next morning, as soon as Feng Yi woke, Lan Jian carried a porcelain plate to the bedside and said: "Sir, please rinse your mouth."

Feng Yi then saw Ju Jian holding a set of pale blue new clothes, and hurriedly said: "You two had better not attend to me; I'm not used to it."

Lan Jian pursed her lips and smiled, saying: "Are you afraid of Miss Duan?"

Feng Yi smiled faintly.

Ju Jian said: "That Miss A Zi was taken by the old lady early this morning to go look at the stone wall."

Feng Yi thought that Tong Lao probably wanted to cultivate A Zi as her own helper to kill Li Qiu Shui. Seeing a bowl of bright yellow soup, he picked it up and took a sip; it tasted sweet with a hint of bitterness, but had no tea flavor. He wondered aloud: "Is this ginseng soup?"

He had wandered the martial world in both his lives, and had come through; after just one sip he knew the situation, and secretly sighed that the Spirit Vulture Palace was quite extravagant.

Suddenly a girl's voice came: "Sir, the lackeys of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands have gathered again at the foot of the mountain, seeming to want to attack our palace."

It was Zhu Jian's voice, and Mei Jian walked in.

Feng Yi thought for a moment: "Good, I'll go down the peak right away!"

At this point he couldn't worry about it, and hurriedly got out of bed.

Lan Jian and Ju Jian served him to dress and put on shoes; Mei Jian combed his hair and washed his face, but Feng Yi, fearing a fight might break out, didn't have time to enjoy the beauty's service, and after finishing up he said: "Notify Tong Lao to wait in the main hall." He then immediately flew out of the house and rushed down the peak.

Feng Yi exerted all his strength in lightness skill, reached the foot of the peak, and far off heard "thirty".

"That's right; if we can't, we'll seize this bunch of women and use them to exchange for the antidote to the Life and Death Talisman!"

"Boss Wu, that Feng Yi fell into a pile of women, enjoying endless beauty's service—how could he care about our life or death?"

"Yeah, let's charge; at worst we'll die together and the net will break."

"Exactly; since things have come to this, Tong Lao will surely not yield—we'd rather die standing firm!"

The people of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands are mixed in quality, and they speak without restraint.

The Spirit Vulture Palace's women have never suffered such humiliation, their faces flushed red with anger; but though they have nine divisions, eight have gone out to seek Tong Lao, leaving only the Juntian and Haotian divisions, and now a Yangtian division has rushed back as well. Facing nearly a thousand people, they truly have no chance of victory, and can only wait for Tong Lao's command.

Amid the clamor, suddenly Feng Yi shouted loudly: "Everyone, be quiet!"

His voice was like a thunderclap, suppressing everyone's voices.

The leader of the Yangtian Division is a girl about twenty, named Fu Minyi. Having heard of Feng Yi's deeds earlier, she quickly stepped forward to pay her respects. Feng Yi gave a slight nod, flew out of the formation, and gazed fiercely at the crowd: "Boss Wu, is this what you've decided upon?"

Boss Wu looked at Feng Yi and said solemnly: "This is certainly not the result.

We have discussed it: as long as you can remove our Life and Death Talismans, we would gladly kowtow to Tong Lao, or even kneel and call her grandmother—but can you guarantee that?

Feng Yi said: "If that's the case, then put down your weapons and follow me up Illusory Peak to apologize to Tong Lao, and I will remove your Life and Death Talismans!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, some unable to fathom his intentions.

Someone said: "If you make us drop our weapons and you harbor ill intent, wouldn't we be at your mercy?"

Feng Yi sneered: "It seems that with your weapons in hand, to me and the sisters of the Spirit Vulture Palace, you're no different than fish and meat!"

I have just one sentence: those who trust me, drop your weapons and follow me up the peak; those who don't, go ahead and try your way—see if you can achieve mutual destruction.

After a moment, Boss Wu flung his weapon aside, strode forward, and said: "I trust you; if you want to kill me, then do so."

Once someone took the lead, those who had been knocked down by Feng Yi yesterday but not injured also rose.

Soon, all the cave and island leaders threw down their weapons.

Feng Yi nodded: "Up the peak!"

The procession mightily ascended Illusory Peak's Spirit Vulture Palace, entered the hall that could hold thousands, and saw a crowd of sword-wielding women, all looking tense.

Feng Yi saw Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju Jian nod slightly at him, understood the situation, and proclaimed loudly: "Kneel and kowtow!"

The people of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands all knelt down together, saying: "May Tong Lao live ten thousand years!" and immediately began kowtowing.

"One!" Mei Jian called out crisply.

"Two!"

"Three!"

……

"Thirty‑eight..."

They kept kowtowing, but no one responded,

"Bang, bang, bang."

Those kowtowing had lost patience, but having done so many, they thought perhaps a few more would suffice to show sincerity.

"One hundred eight!"

Then Tong Lao's voice echoed through the hall: "From today onward, Feng Yi shall be the lord of my Spirit Vulture Palace on Illusory Peak; you lot of demons and monsters, if you harbor rebellious thoughts, even if the Life and Death Talisman is removed, it can be reapplied!"

Feng Yi secretly amused, thinking that Tong Lao must have heard that Duan Yu earned his divine skill after kowtowing a thousand times, and thus she was treating them this way.

But these people are unruly; naturally they won't kowtow that many times, so we take one hundred eight—their rebellious number.

Having kowtowed so many times, they originally harbored resentment, but upon hearing Tong Lao's words, as if in a dream, they immediately burst into tears of joy, all shouting: "Thank you, Tong Lao, for your great kindness and virtue!"

"We have been blinded by pig fat, unaware of good or bad!"

"We swear to die in loyalty to the Spirit Vulture Palace!"

Feng Yi then began to remove the Life and Death Talismans for them.

The Life and Death Talisman makes one unable to seek life or death; it is merely a thin slice of ice, of course this is the basics, and one must also attach internal energy of different yang and yin attributes, as well as varying ratios of internal energy striking the meridians—for example, three parts yang, seven parts yin, or six parts yin, four parts yang—relying on the ice itself, then adding this yin-yang qi to cause various discomforts in the body.

Thus, to dispel the Life and Death Talisman actually relies on the proportion and coordination of yin-yang true qi, and the use of true qi between different meridians and acupoints.

If Feng Yi himself were afflicted with the Life and Death Talisman, his internal energy having reached the sublime state of yin-yang mutual aid, he could also use inner vision to observe the internal flow of qi; even if he couldn't immediately discern the attribute, he could first suppress and wrap the talisman's qi with yang internal energy.

Then, using inner vision to observe and judge, and combining the sensation of his own internal energy contacting the talisman's energy, he would gradually discern the talisman's attribute and finally eliminate it one by one.

Therefore, the key lies in clarifying the attribute of the internal energy of the Life and Death Talisman on the meridians, then targeting its removal; one does not necessarily need to know the Tianshan Six Yang Palm.

What Tong Lao of Tianshan calls the necessity of the Tianshan Six Yang Palm to dispel it actually means that mastering the Tianshan Six Yang Palm already encompasses various specific methods for dispelling the Life and Death Talisman.

For Feng Yi to remove the talisman from outsiders, he must rely not only on profound internal energy but also on skilled technique; naturally he must practice the Tianshan Six Yang Palm extensively.

Thus it took more than ten days straight to completely cleanse the Life and Death Talismans from the bodies of the heroes.

The heroes, having submitted to Tong Lao that day, were forcibly taken in and given Life and Death Talismans, under her control, with no alternative; now that Feng Yi has relieved them of the painful poison on their bodies, they make no further demands. Though the heroes are all unruly, they also feel gratitude and virtue, sincerely submit, swear to die in loyalty, and one by one bid farewell after giving thanks.

Meanwhile, Tong Lao daily regains her power, while guiding A Zi in studying the diagrams on the stone wall; A Zi's internal energy and martial arts advance together, having made great progress since first arriving at Illusory Peak.

(End of chapter)