Chapter 179

Mount Zhongnan was originally the land of Yu Prefecture of the Great Qing.

Seven years ago, Grand Secretary Xie Chunan submitted a memorial, wanting to divide it into the Yan territory; when the court learned of it, there was an uproar, and after many heads were dissuaded,

Empress Dowager Zhou Jinyu took the ten-year-old Son of Heaven and approved the matter.

Yu Prefecture!

The mountains and rivers are majestic, plains are scarce, and there are many hunters who live by mountain taxes; among the prefectures of the Great Qing, it has always been known for being poor and backward.

After the Yan Prince practiced Daoism on Zhongnan, Yu Prefecture set up three military towns to guard it.

The expenses of the Yanbei Army of more than 80,000 people add up to quite a lot; plus, during the truce, the Yanbei Army also implemented the equal-field system and the Fubing system with Qian Yuan, and the soldiers mostly settled down locally, married, and had children.

With the entry of population, the widening of official roads, and the expansion of cities, Yu Prefecture, which could only eat from the mountains, had some vitality.

Every year-end and beginning of the year, pilgrims from the Yan territory flocked to Mount Zhongnan; the towns at the foot of the mountain were brightly lit, the night was like day, rooms in inns were hard to find, and the prices were close to astronomical!

The food, clothing, and expenses of these pilgrims along the way, and the gold and silver spent, all became the wealth of Yu Prefecture.

In these ten years!

The lives of the people in Yu Prefecture also began to flourish, and they became more and more respectful of this Mount Zhongnan, which is surrounded by incense all year round.

Mount Zhongnan was originally just an unknown big mountain.

A mountain does not need to be high; it is famous if there is an immortal!

The rolling mountains of Yu Prefecture, once down, is the Yuetang River!

Yuejiang City was built along the river; it is located at the intersection of north and south, and with the convenience of water transport, it is accessible in all directions; in the past ten years, it has attracted countless merchants from all over the world.

Former famous actors and actresses also performed here; theaters, singing stages, and brothels settled here one after another.

Every year, the wealthy guests who come from the Northern territory to offer incense on Mount Zhongnan spend money like water; there are many who are rich and powerful, as if all this gold and silver in the boxes were washed up by the Yuetang River.

The jargon on the outskirts of the flower guests is also called "local tyrants"!

The local tyrants of the Yan territory made the business of brothels and taverns exceptionally hot, with gold and silver filling the rooms, and people pouring in.

Those who came earlier have already made a lot of money; among them, the actors and actresses have hardened their waists, but they look down on their sisters in the imperial capital.

No matter what industry, there are always some highs and lows, and they look down on each other!

In Yuejiang City, if you talk about the most famous restaurant, it is none other than "Fengkelai."

This was originally just an ordinary restaurant in an ordinary alley, but it became popular overnight after the Baoyue Tower announced the Rouge Ranking the year before last.

The Rouge Ranking, annual, selects ten peerless beauties in the world; the top of the list is hailed as "Color Number One," and those who can be on the list are all beauties who are famous in the Jianghu and peerless in the country.

The proprietress of this Fengkelai is actually on the list!

The beauty is known to the world!

For a time, the threshold of Fengkelai was broken, and guests from all directions squeezed their heads, just to see the proprietress's face.

Only when distinguished guests arrive here will this proprietress appear to meet them, which is quite mysterious!

Today, however, it is different.

In the most elegant and open-view top-floor private room of Fengkelai.

This proprietress is carefully accompanying two guests.

On the left side of the private room, a bamboo-carved window was gently pushed open, and the river breeze blew on the face, bringing a bit of coolness and comfort.

Outside the window!

The full view of Yuejiang City is in sight; large ships coming and going on the river are endless, the city is bustling, the streets are noisy, various shops are dazzling, and the bridges and alleys are full of traffic.

"This Yuejiang City seems to be much better than the capital."

The person who said this was a sturdy young man, who was leaning on the window with a plate of peanuts and chewing slowly!

The sturdy young man was wearing blue brocade clothes, with a tiger-skin hat on his head, regular features, a rosy complexion, and a pair of eyes with the tiger spirit of a teenager.

"It's not very good when there are too many people; it's noisy!"

Responding to him was a middle-aged scholar, his voice steady and magnetic, his temples gray, with traces of time at the corners of his eyes, but it was hard to hide his elegance and mature charm.

If Ma Bao, who was resurrected from the dead, were here, he would definitely recognize the two.

This young man is Xie Mu.

The middle-aged scholar is the Demon Master Huang Dao, who once beheaded a dragon on Mount Zhongnan.

The changes in Xie Mu over the years are obvious; his blood is full, his breath is deep and long, and it is clear that he has made great progress in the path of martial arts, having already entered the Grandmaster realm.

And Huang Dao, it seems that there is no big change, but if you observe carefully, you can find that his temperament is more easygoing, his breath is completely restrained, and the whole person seems to be integrated with the surrounding environment, like an ordinary person.

The realm of returning to the basics!

The woman standing quietly beside Huang Dao is the proprietress of Fengkelai, a beauty on the Rouge Ranking.

She is over twenty years old, her figure is graceful, as if a weak willow supporting the wind, but she is also hanging with heavy fruits, showing a mature and seductive charm.

Wearing plain clothes, it is hard to hide her crystal-clear face like jade, like a new moon with a halo.

Her eyes are clear as water, and her gaze reveals an elegant and high-class temperament, making people involuntarily fall for her, feeling ashamed of themselves, and not daring to have the slightest thought of blasphemy.

Xie Mu turned back from the window and took another look at her, unable to help but secretly admire in his heart; this woman is indeed born beautiful,

The first glance when entering the door made him mistake her for the white jade Guanyin in the Buddha hall descending to the mortal world.

Seeing this, Huang Dao couldn't help but smile:

"Why, do you like her? If you like her, how about letting her be your wife?"

Hearing this, Xie Mu quickly waved his hand; although he had a natural love for beauties in his youth, mixing in brothels, and years of martial arts practice and wandering, made him see through the affairs of the red dust quite thoroughly.

Just look at women!

His eyes looked a little more at the fullness that suddenly expanded from the thin waist of the woman, and then down.

This gap!

Seems to be a virgin body.

Xie Mu couldn't help shaking his head; some women are destined not to be touched.

This peerless beauty on the Rouge Ranking, a woman as holy as a Bodhisattva, is secretly the contemporary Sect Leader of the Holy Lotus Sect, one of the three demonic sects.

The disciples of the Holy Lotus Sect are spread all over the world, numbering as many as hundreds of thousands, from the common people to royal nobles.

The teaching is that as long as you are pious and follow the guidance of the Holy Lotus, you can transcend reincarnation after death and be led to the legendary Holy Lotus world, becoming a citizen of the Holy Kingdom, enjoying peace forever, without disaster or difficulty, and far away from the suffering of the world.

This sect has the most believers among the three demonic sects, and it is mainly female believers.

And this woman is even more remarkable; she has reached the perfection of the Grandmaster realm.

She has even practiced the "Holy Lotus Crossing Evil" in the Heavenly Demon Strategy to the legendary highest realm of "Induction," and her strength is unfathomable, ranking 140th on the Jingzhe Ranking.

Being able to control a sect in the demonic path, her means and strategy can be imagined as terrifying.

This kind of woman is more terrifying than a snake or scorpion!

Now Xie Mu has not yet entered the Jingzhe Ranking, but there are already legends about him in the Jianghu.

The Demon Master walks in the Jianghu, always accompanied by a man.

It is speculated in the Jianghu that he is the Demon Master's disciple.

However, only the demonic path knows that this Demon Master practices the ruthless path, so how could he have any disciples!

Xie Mu has exquisite demonic martial arts; he is not combative, and if it weren't for the convenience of running away later, he wouldn't have practiced it.

Xie Mu has also figured it out in these ten years!

Following Huang Dao, besides needing to be a little afraid, he is a guest of honor everywhere on weekdays.

Fox pretending to be a tiger!

Xie Mu looked at the plain noodles that Huang Dao had been eating consistently; there were various delicious dishes on the table, but he didn't move his chopsticks.

He and Huang Dao have been together for more than ten years, and he is also familiar with his life and diet.

Huang Dao has been eating vegetarian food and noodles for ten years!

Like a high monk, but Xie Mu knows that this person doesn't even shake his hand when killing, like stepping on an ant.

He couldn't help asking: "Is this really that delicious?"

Huang Dao smiled:

"Why don't you have a bowl!"

The woman's beautiful eyes looked at Xie Mu and Huang Dao, with a thoughtful look in her eyes.

The relationship between the two does not seem to be master and disciple.

Xie Mu saw that the woman didn't mean to eat either, so he started eating on his own.

He suddenly remembered the business of coming here today.

"Do you think that person will come?"

After speaking, he looked up at this peerless woman again.

That person is the famous "color demon" in the world; as long as he takes a fancy to a woman, she will be abducted and taken to the Great Snow Mountain.

He doesn't think that person will let go of this peerless beauty on the Rouge Ranking.

Huang Dao looked out the window and said lightly:

"Don't worry, I just need to release my breath when I appear here, and he will definitely come!"

This person is none other than the Master of the Great Snow Mountain, Young Master Xiaoyue, who has been famous in the Jianghu for a long time.

The top ten of the Jingzhe Ranking is also one of the Five Absolutes recognized by Jianghu people.

After Huang Dao finished eating, he sat quietly on the chair, his breathing steady, as if an ordinary person was dozing off.

Xie Mu's cultivation is shallow and he cannot feel it.

In the woman's perception, Huang Dao seemed to have disappeared out of thin air, and the seat was empty.

This level of cultivation has reached an unfathomable point, even compared to those demonic ancestors in history, it is not inferior.

What is even more shocking is that Huang Dao practices the "Dao Heart Planting Demon Great Art," which is an extremely strange demonic skill, but in Huang Dao's hands, it seems to have undergone some kind of mutation, becoming more strange and bloody, capable of absorbing others' cultivation and essence and blood; this ability has far exceeded the scope of the original demonic skill.

After Xie Mu was full of wine and food, the dishes on the table were taken away, and two pots of tea were served.

Xie Mu leaned on the chair without a proper shape, his eyes looking at the ceiling without focus.

The woman still stood quietly behind Huang Dao, not daring to be negligent.

Half an hour passed!

Huang Dao opened his eyes, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"He's here!"

After hearing this, the woman's spirit tightened instantly; there was a guest coming today, and she naturally knew who it was.

That Young Master Xiaoyue!

Xie Mu also immediately regained his spirit, looking at the door and window of the private room; there were only two entrances.

No trace!

He looked at the room again; where did the person come from?

There were only the three of them in this small private room.

Huang Dao smiled:

"Young Master Xiaoyue, since you are here, please take a seat."

As soon as the words fell!

The woman only felt a puff of hot air blowing past her ear, and her heart was shocked.

When she came back to her senses, there was already a man in white at the table, who sat down silently like a ghost.

Xie Mu widened his eyes, and he looked at this scene in disbelief.

The door was closed tightly, and although the window was open, this floor was more than ten feet high; he had been staring at the window, but had never discovered any movement.

How did this Young Master Xiaoyue appear in the room silently?

The light-body technique of this person is truly terrifying!

Leaving no trace on the snow, Azure Heaven White Crane.

Xie Mu was even more surprised by his appearance at this time.

This person's appearance is very different from the rumors.

The woman also looked over curiously, this mysterious Young Master Xiaoyue in the Jianghu.

It turned out to be just a thin middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance.

A white suit embroidered with a hundred-bird pattern with gold thread, a white jade belt around his waist, an ivory-carved fan in his hand, regular features, slightly sunken cheeks, a faint red spot on the corner of his mouth, and a pair of long, narrow eyes revealing a faint look of looking down.

This is Young Master Xiaoyue!

Xie Mu widened his eyes; the handsome and extraordinary Young Master Xiaoyue, the banished immortal, as said in the Jianghu.

It turned out to be this look!

Jianghu rumors cannot be taken as true.

Xiaoyue first looked at the woman carefully, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Able to be on the Rouge Ranking and rated as 'Bai Yu Guanyin', it is indeed worthy of being a peerless beauty!"

Seeing this, the woman couldn't help but move closer to the Demon Master.

Compared to the ruthless Demon Master, this Xiaoyue, who has hundreds of harems and is addicted to women, is even more terrifying to her.

Xiaoyue unfolded the folding fan in his hand at will, with a picture of mandarin ducks playing in the water painted on it, and smiled:

"I came here for business today, I'm afraid I can't let the girl have her wish!"

After saying that!

The red spot on Xiaoyue's face seemed even redder.

Seeing this, Xie Mu only sighed in his heart; how did Xiaoyue make those women love him to death with this look?

Really thinking he is a banished immortal, loved by women; it is feared that most of them were forcibly abducted!

Flower-plucking thief!

Xiaoyue seemed to see through Xie Mu's thoughts, turned his face to him, and smiled:

"This little friend, do you also want to go to the Great Snow Mountain to enjoy bliss?"

"My wives, their skills in serving people are not bad!"

Xie Mu felt cold in his heart when he heard this!

He remembered another rumor in the Jianghu, saying that Xiaoyue would invite men to the Great Snow Mountain.

Among them were scholars taking exams, pig butchers, and beggars on the street, all of them, various kinds.

After these people were invited up the mountain, they would be treated as "Young Master Xiaoyue" by Xiaoyue's hundreds of wives.

Let them experience the illusory pleasure of becoming "Young Master Xiaoyue," whether it is power or lust!

However, when these people were changed back to their original identities after being drunk and dreaming, many committed suicide or became crazy because they could not accept this huge gap.

Xie Mu was also a bit scared; this is a martial Great Grandmaster of the same realm as Huang Dao, who is afraid that he can twist his neck at will.

Huang Dao said appropriately: "Young Master Xiaoyue, why bother with a junior."

Xiaoyue put away the folding fan, looked away, turned his head, and no longer stared at Xie Mu.

"This time the Demon Master is looking for me, it shouldn't be that you also want to use 'Dao Heart Planting Demon' on me, right?"

Huang Dao's eyes narrowed and said: "This time it's not me looking for Young Master Xiaoyue!"

"Isn't it Young Master Xiaoyue looking for me?"

Xiaoyue smiled after hearing this!

"Could it be that the Demon Master also came for this?"

"I heard that the Demon Master was defeated by this person twice; do you still have the guts this time?"

The woman behind seemed to understand something!

The Demon Master fled in panic twice, and there is only that one person in the Jianghu.

Lu Yu of the Sanzhen Sect!

The Demon Master was exposed, but he was not annoyed on his face, and said in a deep voice:

"I know the strength of this person, so I dare not act rashly, so I chose to join forces with Young Master Xiaoyue!"

Xiaoyue didn't make a sound, only a faint smile on his face, and then unfolded the fan with a "clatter," fanning lightly!

"Why should I join forces with you? I have no death feud with Mount Zhongnan!"

The Demon Master was unmoved and said meaningfully: "Young Master Xiaoyue has been wandering around the Yuetang River for the past few months; what he is plotting, although I cannot know everything, I can guess one or two, and it must have something to do with that Mount Zhongnan."

Xiaoyue seemed to have his thoughts exposed, and the smile on his face faded.

The Demon Master continued:

"I don't care what Young Master Xiaoyue is seeking, nor do I want to know."

"I just want to kill Lu Chen with my own hands; what does the Young Master think?"

After a moment of silence, Xiaoyue nodded slowly: "Good! Just as you say."

Xie Mu sighed after hearing this; finally, he couldn't escape the matter concerning this Shaobao.

A smile appeared on the Demon Master's face.

"The time is next month, when Lu Chen comes down from Mount Zhongnan!"

(End of chapter)