Chapter 312: The heroes of this world are truly as numerous as the crucian carp crossing the river

"Senior Sister!"

Gu Qing hurriedly rose to his feet, offering a salute to Lu Xueqi with a touch of flattery. Lu Xueqi had already approached; upon hearing Gu Qing call out "Senior Sister," she was slightly surprised, sensing that the current situation was not quite the same.

Inside the cabin, cups and plates were in disarray, Shen Xiaoyu's face was covered in grease, and the tossing and turning had left the place a mess.

Lu Xueqi stood outside the cabin; once she saw the filth and disorder inside, she had no intention of stepping in. She gazed at Gu Qing from the deck. Gu Qing, light of foot at this moment, exited the cabin in two or three strides and arrived before Lu Xueqi. Though startled that Lu Xueqi would come to this place, he still managed to convey in a few words that he was "Ye Fan."

Lu Xueqi was, by nature, a person like an iceberg; hearing this, she showed neither joy nor anger, yet she understood the situation in her heart.

"This one is called Wan Renwang."

Gu Qing pointed at Wan Renwang and gave a rough introduction. This Ghost King was meticulous in his thinking and possessed vast knowledge. After Gu Qing had come into contact with him, he had been guarding the Dragon-Slaying Sword, not revealing its edge. However, Lu Xueqi had arrived on her sword, and the Tianya Sword was now exposed right under the Ghost King's eyelids.

Therefore, to prevent the Ghost King from targeting Lu Xueqi, Gu Qing had to draw his ire.

"This one is Mr. Wan Renwang's daughter!"

Gu Qing extended a finger toward Shen Xiaoyu and said with a straight face: "She is specifically here to receive guests."

Lu Xueqi's eyes were like frost, appearing extremely disdainful as she sized up Wan Renwang.

"That is not true!"

Shen Xiaoyu hurriedly denied it.

"She is surnamed Shen, and I am surnamed Wan; how could we possibly be father and daughter?"

The Ghost King calmly denied it, though he already harbored the intent to kill Gu Qing in his heart.

"So it turns out that isn't the case."

Gu Qing seemed very disappointed, yet his gaze remained fixed on the Ghost King. He knew the Ghost King possessed great strategy and deep calculations, but on the issue of Baguio, he would certainly be able to draw his ire.

The Ghost King remained silent.

"Apologies, you said that the nearby tower ships were all for receiving guests..."

Gu Qing's words trailed off.

The Ghost King's expression turned cold.

"Also, we just met and spoke so much, yet I still don't know if you have a wife."

Gu Qing said very casually.

This sudden mention of the topic of a wife was too hellish for the Ghost King. The Ghost King's expression changed drastically, and he said coldly: "Guo Daxia Ye, I invited you here to slay demons and eliminate devils."

While the Ghost King was speaking, the shore had already fallen into chaos. Gu Qing looked over and saw a humanoid monster covered in fur appear there, its face looking extremely ferocious as it ran toward a tower ship.

"The Mountain Demon is here, everyone run!"

"Spare my life, spare my life!"

The area around the tower ship was in a state of total confusion. Many people, seeing the Mountain Demon running over, jumped into the water with a splash, calling for help incessantly.

"Guo Daxia Ye!"

The Ghost King hurriedly requested: "The Mountain Demon has already appeared."

"Senior Sister Lu, go quickly and subdue him!"

Gu Qing hurriedly called out.

Lu Xueqi soared into the air, just about to subdue the enemy, when she suddenly felt a chilling sensation behind her. In the reflection of the sword light, she saw Wan Renwang, who had been standing perfectly still just a moment ago, suddenly strike out, casually unleashing a move toward Gu Qing's crown!

Gu Qing, experiencing such a change for the first time, was flustered and seemingly unable to respond, barely tilting his body before being seized by the arm bone by Wan Renwang's move.

"You... you..."

Gu Qing's expression was extremely terrified as he looked at the arm grabbed by the Ghost King.

The Ghost King sneered, just about to speak, when he suddenly felt a terrifying suction force coming from where he touched, pulling at the blood throughout his body and his three souls and seven spirits. At this moment, he felt as if he saw endless vengeful spirits and felt a massive baleful energy about to backlash!

The Ghost King's palm had landed squarely on the Soul-Devouring Rod, and the power of the Blood-Drinking Bead and the Soul-Absorbing power backlashed simultaneously, catching the Ghost King off guard.

"Clang!"

The Dragon-Slaying Sword proudly left its sheath, its emerald sword light appearing before the Ghost King's eyes. As the sword light swirled, two rays of light—one red and one blue—entwined and surged upon it, slashing directly at the Ghost King!

Back when he slew Bi Xuan, Gu Qing had needed the strength of both hands to control the extreme Yin and Yang to slash him down with one sword. But having cultivated the Great Ultimate Profound Purity Dao, his control over this extreme Yin and Yang power had reached a higher level. This sword slash made the Ghost King feel there was nowhere to hide and nowhere to retreat!

The Ghost King grabbing Gu Qing's arm and Gu Qing drawing his sword to counterattack all happened in an instant. At this moment, the Ghost King felt the suction force, and the next moment, the long sword was already across his neck. Such a crisp and clean counterattack, occurring in the gap where the Ghost King felt he had succeeded, truly caught him off guard.

"Swish!"

The long sword slashed across.

At this moment, the Ghost King had already turned into black smoke and retreated, but Gu Qing's long sword slashed through, and a patch of blood splattered on the spot.

At this moment, both sides pulled apart.

Wan Renwang stood with his hands behind his back, his face slightly pale. His gaze swept over the long sword in Gu Qing's hand, and he sneered: "So it is the master of the Dragon-Slaying Sword!"

In this instant, Lu Xueqi had already returned to Gu Qing's side, Tianya in hand, standing shoulder to shoulder with Gu Qing.

"Mr. Wan."

Gu Qing said indifferently, "The more calculating a person is, the easier it is for them to fall into unexpected predicaments and lose everything they've worked for." As he spoke, Gu Qing swung his long sword casually. The mountain demon on the side suddenly had its fur burst open, revealing the form of a man.

Gu Qing had already cultivated the Dao Heart Planting Demon Art, using his spirit to control matter. After this mountain demon appeared near him, Gu Qing swept it with his spirit and immediately knew it was a man in disguise.

Wan Renwang looked at the completely different mental state before him, then recalled how Gu Qing had just shouted about not bullying the poor in their youth, and only then realized he had been played by Gu Qing.

"If a plan is not kept secret, one will suffer the consequences."

Wan Renwang laughed magnanimously, recalling his own schemes... He had accidentally learned that there was a scholar near Zhushan City who had lost his money on a riverboat and was posing as a mountain demon to beg for money. He used this as a lead to set a trap, wanting to let the Profound Heaven Sect or Pufang of the Heavenly Sound Temple kill the mountain demon, disrupt their state of mind, and then surround and attack Pufang.

Even if they couldn't kill him, they could still break his Buddhist heart.

But this plan had been seen through.

Wan Renwang looked at Gu Qing, recalled the previous topic of Gu Qing discussing his wife and daughter, and then felt the baleful aura and blood energy that came when he touched Gu Qing's arm, as well as Gu Qing's stunning sword strike just now. He knew he had been led by Gu Qing the whole time. He sighed and said, "The heroes of this world are truly as numerous as crucian carp crossing the river..."

As he spoke, Wan Renwang looked up at the sky and saw a golden light coming from afar, its target being exactly this place. He immediately waved his hand and left the area.

The current Wan Renwang was already injured and could no longer fight to the death.

Lu Xueqi's gaze was cold. After watching Wan Renwang leave, she said, "That person is about the same as our Profound Heaven Sect's Peak Master."

The Ghost King should be slightly stronger than the Profound Heaven Sect's Peak Master.

Gu Qing watched the Ghost King's departing back. If it weren't for his deliberate planning, it wouldn't have been so easy to win a move against the Ghost King.

It was also because Gu Qing had entered the seventh layer of the Taiji Profound Purity Dao that this Shattering the Void was used more sharply.

A golden light fell at this moment. A tall monk appeared in the golden light, his gaze containing baleful energy as he looked at Gu Qing and Lu Xueqi.

"Greetings, Uncle-Master of the Heavenly Sound Temple."

Gu Qing cupped his hands indifferently and greeted the monk slightly. He brought Lu Xueqi to the side of the "mountain demon." Watching the mountain demon crying incessantly, he asked with a warm face, "Seeing you crying and sobbing, is your life not going well?"

This mountain demon had originally been crying, but now it cried even more miserably.

The monk from the Heavenly Sound Temple had originally intended to shout a question, but now he silently stood to the side, watching Gu Qing handle the mountain demon's affair.

"My surname is Zhang..."

This man surnamed Zhang told his experience amidst constant crying. It turned out that this Zhang was a scholar who had been betrothed early on. However, with the decline of the Zhang family, the Liu family gradually looked down on him. Only Miss Liu was unwilling to break the marriage, made a bet with her family, and took out all her private money to give to Scholar Zhang, asking him to propose.

"It was on the day of the proposal that I boarded this boat."

Scholar Zhang pointed at the boat and said with grief and indignation, "They are not human. They forced me to gamble with them on the boat and made me owe them IOUs..."

This matter of Scholar Zhang's proposal was naturally all for nothing.

Gu Qing gave an "oh" and said, "I heard in Zhushan City that Miss Liu would rather marry a beggar than a scholar. Is that you?"

Scholar Zhang wept bitterly. Everything he owed was gambling debt, and he couldn't defend himself against all the accusations. He could only watch Miss Liu marry a beggar out of spite.

Gu Qing leaped into the riverboat and, through soul-snatching methods, questioned them several times. Knowing that what Scholar Zhang said was true, he took money from the riverboat and returned it to Scholar Zhang.

Scholar Zhang thanked him profusely and left in a hurry.

After handling this matter, Gu Qing and Lu Xueqi both looked at the monk from the Heavenly Sound Temple.

"Amitabha."

The monk's voice was loud and hoarse as he called out, "This poor monk is Pufang."

Upon hearing this name, Lu Xueqi's hand tightened involuntarily. She had also learned the Great Brahma Prajna, and in front of the monk from the Heavenly Sound Temple, she always felt somewhat guilty.

"I have long admired your great name."

Gu Qing's voice was indifferent as he said, "When at Grass Temple Village, Puzhi was first struck by the Seven-Tailed Centipede. In such a situation, if he had fought that person to the end, do you think Puzhi could still be alive?"

This monk Pufang had the best relationship with Puzhi. In the novel, after Puzhi died, Monk Pufang didn't pay much attention to the affairs of the Heavenly Sound Temple. Hearing Gu Qing ask this, Monk Pufang nodded and said, "In that situation, he would surely have died without a doubt."

"Monk Puzhi carried the Blood-Devouring Bead. Over a long period, the baleful energy pierced his heart. When his evil thoughts sprouted, I stopped him, saving a great monk of the Heavenly Sound Temple."

Gu Qing said briefly, "In this situation, how does your Heavenly Sound Temple intend to thank me?"

I still have to thank you?

Monk Pufang looked at Gu Qing, feeling that everything Gu Qing said was reasonable. Having saved a great monk of the Heavenly Sound Temple, the Heavenly Sound Temple naturally had to express its thanks.

Lu Xueqi looked sideways at Gu Qing. Upon learning that the people from the Heavenly Sound Temple had gone up the mountain and Gu Qing had gone down, Lu Xueqi felt something was wrong and followed Gu Qing's direction down the mountain, thinking that when the Heavenly Sound Temple came to hold him accountable, she could help Gu Qing reduce the punishment. She didn't expect that after Gu Qing's questioning, it seemed the Heavenly Sound Temple was in the wrong.

"Benefactor Gu, no matter how flowery your words are, I still must..."

Monk Pufang was just about to speak when he was interrupted by Gu Qing.

"Did I force him to pass on the secret manual?"

Gu Qing shouted a question.

Monk Pufang simply stopped talking and quietly looked at Gu Qing, Buddha light circling his body. He made up his mind that he still had to take Gu Qing to the Heavenly Sound Temple.

"Actually, I just blocked a disaster for you."

Gu Qing said faintly.

The Ghost King's original intention was to destroy Pufang. Gu Qing could only be considered a small fry, but this small fry broke through the fishing net and caused a huge variable.

Pufang listened to the cause and effect, recalled Puzhi once saying he "suspected Gu Qing knew arts to predict the future," and his mind became somewhat flustered.

"Forget it, you can't make the decision either."

Gu Qing waved his hand casually and said, "After a while, I will visit the Heavenly Sound Temple. At that time, I will definitely give your Heavenly Sound Temple an explanation."

There was a Wordless Jade Wall at the back mountain of the Heavenly Sound Temple, which contained the fourth volume of the Heavenly Book. If Gu Qing wanted to cultivate the complete Heavenly Book, he couldn't fall out with the Heavenly Sound Temple.

Monk Pufang listened to Gu Qing's sharp and well-organized words, feeling that he could no longer win against Gu Qing in a debate. However, using fists and feet, with one Gu Qing and a Lu Xueqi beside him, made it difficult for Pufang to capture him. Moreover, Gu Qing had just said he would go to the Heavenly Sound Temple, which left Monk Pufang unable to find a reason to strike.

"Heh..."

Monk Pufang didn't expect that he had come in a rage, only to return with a belly full of anger.

Watching Monk Pufang drive the golden light away, Gu Qing looked sideways at Lu Xueqi beside him. Their gazes met, and Gu Qing suddenly went to hold Lu Xueqi's hand.

"Slap!"

Before his hand reached her, it was slapped down by Lu Xueqi.

"..."

Gu Qing didn't force it. He and Lu Xueqi returned to Zhushan City side by side. When they found a restaurant and were about to rest for a while, they heard noise outside and saw an old man carrying a little girl, rushing in from outside, and even telling the shopkeeper to close the door early and so on.

"Grandpa, are you afraid?"

The little girl said to the old man.

"How could your grandpa be afraid?"

The old man seemed somewhat embarrassed and angry, and said again, "That guy has walked in the martial arts world for so many years, this is the first time he's suffered such a loss. Of course he's going to take revenge!" As the old man spoke, his gaze saw Gu Qing and Lu Xueqi. He thought for a moment, leaned over, and scrutinized Gu Qing's physiognomy. After examining it for a moment, he said, "Your physiognomy can be considered a god descending to the mortal world!"

A god descending to the mortal world?

Gu Qing watched the old man and the little granddaughter walk over. He casually picked up the little granddaughter, looked at her small appearance, took the chopsticks, and picked a few peanuts for the little girl. Only then did he look at the old man and ask, "How do you explain this physiognomy of a god descending to the mortal world?"

The old man examined Gu Qing. After looking for a long time, he shook his head fiercely and said, "I must be sick to stare at your physiognomy..."

Gu Qing knew that the old man in front of him was likely Zhou Yixian, and the little girl in his arms should be Xiaohuan. In *Zhu Xian*, this Zhou Yixian was also a capable person, but he rarely showed it.

"Clatter."

Gu Qing took out his money bag, placed it in front of the old man, and said, "Please enlighten me, sir."

After seeing the money bag, Zhou Yixian was very happy and immediately said, "There's nothing much to say about your physiognomy. You do whatever you want. There's just one thing: if you want to go east, it's best to go at night, and you can't use your flying sword."

(End of chapter)