Chapter 390: Words in the lake, an autumn on Mount Zhongnan

"Who do you think will be the Flower Queen today?"

"How would I know, but I heard she is even more beautiful than Miss Yunzhi of the Zhang family."

"I think Miss Shuwan of the Li family is even better; that temperament, that figure, tsk tsk..."

"If you ask me, Lady Zhao is the most beautiful."

The person lying on the small boat suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a touch of deep meaning.

"You haven't seen the back of Lady Zhao when she walks; it's just like a gourd, twisting and turning, especially in front... I'm afraid she can't even see her toes when she looks down."

He said this and chuckled, "It's just a pity that the Second Master doesn't come back all year round, and even if he does, he never enters Lady Zhao's room."

"You're crazy!"

Another person's face changed drastically, hurriedly reaching out to cover his mouth, "If this word reaches the ears of the Second Courtyard, our lives won't be saved!"

"What are you afraid of?" The person pushed away his companion's hand, pouting indifferently, "You, you're afraid of everything, afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, what can you achieve? Do you really want to serve the Xie family for a lifetime?"

"Exactly," the third person echoed, "We are in this lake, who can hear us? We are used to being cautious, can't we just satisfy our mouths today when the young ladies, young masters, and stewards of the mansion have all gone to the Flower Banquet?"

On the lake in the backyard of the Xie Mansion, a small boat swayed with the waves, and three green-robed servants leaned on the bow, talking in low voices.

The three were small servants from the Old Matriarch's mansion of the Xie family, because the Old Matriarch liked this "Mother Lake" of the Hongjing Courtyard very much, and they had to clean up the fallen leaves that drifted into the lake every day.

The three were slaves born for this matter.

And because it was the Old Matriarch's mansion, they were less "cautious" than the servants in other courtyards.

The lake reflected the waning moon in the sky, and the breeze blew, causing ripples.

On the lake, the small boat swayed leisurely, and the three continued to talk and laugh in low voices.

"I heard from the maid of the Second Courtyard that the Lady even wraps her chest..." one lowered his voice, his tone carrying a touch of inexplicable ambiguity.

"Eh? Is this true? Then its size, how shocking!"

Another person was dumbfounded.

"Hehe, isn't Master Hong extremely happy at night, I'm afraid he needs both hands to enjoy it."

The three looked at each other and smiled, their laughter rippling on the lake, disturbing a few water birds that were nesting at night, flapping their wings and flying away.

"You, you don't have the life of a master, but you have the bird of a master."

One joked, and the other two laughed, leaning forward and backward.

The small boat rowed slowly across the center of the lake, and the lights of the Hongjing Courtyard were reflected in the water, like a brilliant galaxy, beautiful and breathtaking.

One person rested his hands behind his head, looking up at the starry sky, suddenly frowning:

"Look, Bianjing was suddenly as bright as day just now, what is this? Fireworks?"

Another followed his gaze, only to see a layer of glazed cover vaguely appearing on the horizon, shrouding the whole city, mysterious and unpredictable.

"What is this? Why is there such a cover in the sky? Could it be that the celestial phenomena have changed? The people of Bianjing often say that the Ziwei star moves, the Yinghuo star moves, could it be..."

"Ignore such idle matters!"

The servant rowing the boat interrupted, "We are servants, why do we need to worry about this? If the sky falls, there will be tall people to hold it up."

"Eh? Isn't that where the Academy is, could it be on fire?"

"How could it be fire, how can fire burn to the sky."

Suddenly!

Before the words fell, the lake surged, as if a behemoth was churning under the water.

"What's going on!"

The rower exclaimed, looking down at the lake.

But he saw an ink-colored flood dragon swimming at the bottom of the lake, its body incomparably huge, its scales shining with a cold light.

Its tail flicked lightly, causing giant waves, and the small boat swayed violently, almost capsizing.

The three's faces changed drastically, falling into the cabin, hurriedly grabbing the side of the boat.

"Demon... evil!" one's voice trembled, his eyes full of fear.

"Like... a snake? Or a dragon?" another stammered, his eyes fixed on the black shadow in the lake.

Before they could see it clearly, the flood dragon in the lake suddenly turned into a mass of ink-colored mist, condensing into a giant "Xie" character, floating on the surface of the water.

That "Xie" character's strokes were vigorous and powerful.

After a while, the ink-colored mist condensed again, turning back into the shape of a flood dragon, rushing straight into the sky and disappearing into the night sky.

The three were already scared out of their wits, their faces bitter, rowing their oars in a panic, desperately driving the small boat toward the shore.

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Mount Zhongnan.

It was deep autumn!

The persimmons on the mountain were ripe, hanging sparsely on the branches, like red lanterns, looking particularly pleasing.

All over the mountains and plains, there were golden leaves falling on the steps of the mountain, and fruit trees were fragrant.

The Three Truths Sect welcomed pilgrims, and the fruits on the mountain could be picked at will; children often played here, laughing and talking, often returning fully loaded.

People coming to offer incense and pay respects were endless every day, and the mountain road was like a weave of people, extremely lively.

Mount Zhongnan was secluded, but the foot of the mountain was also noisy with carriages and horses.

On the main road, people were crowded and hard to walk!

In the back mountain of Mount Zhongnan, however, there was a winding path up the mountain, which was difficult for the world to find.

Only the elite disciples of the Three Truths Sect and the local mountain people knew its true appearance, and it was hard for ordinary people to know.

On both sides of the mountain path, ancient trees towered, branches and leaves dense, and the sunlight was screened into mottled light and shadow by the dense canopy.

The roars of wild beasts in the forest appeared from time to time, frightening people.

The vegetation was lush, reaching knee-height, plus the mossy stone road was slippery, and below was a cliff.

The mountain road was steep, and those without skills did not dare to walk from here.

It appeared exceptionally quiet, lacking the noise and crowding of the front mountain.

Only occasionally did travelers pass by in a hurry.

At this time, on the quiet mountain road, two unusual figures walked slowly.

The green-skirted woman had a petite figure, her steps light, a string of silver bells tied to her waist, making a crisp sound with her steps, like a mountain spring flowing.

She was beautiful, her brows and eyes curved, like peach blossoms in full bloom in June, revealing a clever and strange energy.

The woman asked with a smile: "Brother Mu, do you think Mount Zhongnan is this lively every day?"

"If you opened a shop selling candied haws and sesame cakes at the foot of the mountain, wouldn't you make a fortune?"

The person she asked was a tall middle-aged man, his appearance handsome, his whole body revealing masculine energy.

He wore a black headband on his head, his eyes steady as a mountain.

This person was the third son of the Xie family, Xie Mu, who had once traveled the world with Huang Dao.

After Huang Dao ascended, the two peerless secret manuals left behind, "Heavenly Demon Strategy" and "Dao Heart Planting Demon," were both kept by Xie Mu.

Xie Mu decided to return these two manuals to the Demon Sect.

However, people in the Demon Sect saw that he was alone and not a disciple of the Demon Sect, so they harbored evil intentions and actually joined forces to surround and kill Xie Mu.

Xie Mu had followed Huang Dao for many years, and his cultivation had long since reached the top of the world.

Coupled with witnessing Huang Dao's ascension, his state of mind had climbed to the realm of a Grandmaster.

That escape and killing not only did not let him fall but instead helped his cultivation, making him truly rank among the top experts of the world.

The green-skirted woman was originally a "Flower-Between Sect" Demon Sect saintess he had captured on the way while fleeing, originally intending to use her as a hostage.

Back and forth!

Xie Mu was not a person who loved to kill, and coupled with being influenced by Huang Dao, he had kept her by his side.

The green-skirted woman looked up slightly, revealing her snow-white neck, her eyes having a touch of undisguised admiration.

Seeing Xie Mu silent, the woman's voice dragged long, "Brother Mu—"

"Are you listening to me?"

Xie Mu then spoke slowly, his voice steady:

"In these years, Daoism has flourished to the extreme; whether it is the Demon Sect or the Buddha Sect, there have been signs of decline in the last ten years. After the Demon Master died, the nine lineages of the Demon Sect fought endlessly, already reaching the point of life and death."

He paused, his gaze looking toward the distant mountain peak, and continued: "And as the orthodox Buddhism, whether it is the Mahayana or Hinayana schools, the Flower-Dharma, Three-Treatise, Pure Land, Chengshi... a group of Buddhist sects, are suppressed by the Three Truths Daoist Sect to avoid the world and not ask about worldly affairs."

The green-skirted woman blinked, nodding as if she understood, then smiled: "No wonder the people of the world say, 'Why do you need to worship the Spirit Mountain for thousands of miles, Mount Zhongnan has a living Buddha'."

"This so-called living Buddha refers to the Prince of Yan."

Following Huang Dao, the Empress, and Lu Yu's ascension, the Prince of Yan, Lu Chen, had long been firmly at the top of the world.

The power of one person suppressed the world until it couldn't breathe!

And the iron cavalry of the Great Yan, how could the people of heaven not fear!

Hearing this, Xie Mu revealed a faint smile.

"A mountain doesn't need to be high, it's spiritual if there is an immortal."

"As long as Lu Shaobao is here for one day, the incense of Mount Zhongnan will be as high as the sun."

The world called Lu Chen the Prince of Yan, but Xie Mu was a person of Great Qing, used to calling him Shaobao.

He looked up at the peak of Mount Zhongnan, and amidst the clouds and mist, he could vaguely see the ancient Daoist temple.

The green-skirted woman asked softly: "Brother Mu, do you regret it? You kindly wanted to return the manuals, and almost lost your life."

Hearing this, Xie Mu shook his head:

"Senior Huang Dao was kind to me; if I didn't return them, I would feel guilty in my heart."

His voice was low and firm, like a rock in the mountains, unmoved by wind and rain.

The green-skirted woman asked again, "Brother Mu, then what is your relationship with Senior Huang Dao?"

Xie Mu did not answer.

The woman pursed her lips, a complex look flashing in her eyes, then returned to her playful appearance.

She jumped to Xie Mu's side, the sound of bells echoing in the mountains: "Then where are we going next? We can't keep turning around on this Mount Zhongnan, right?"

The breeze blew, bringing a clear fragrance of fruit trees.

Xie Mu said in a low voice: "Go up the mountain!"

The green-skirted woman's eyes were shocked; Mount Zhongnan today.

The Prince of Yan is still in his prime, suppressing the world, and the Seven Sons of Zhongnan are all Great Grandmasters of the world.

It can be called a true dragon's pool and tiger's den.

They are people of the Demon Sect, how dare they easily step into this holy land of the orthodox path?

However!

The woman looked up at Xie Mu's broad back, a flash of determination in her eyes.

She bit her lip and said softly: "Okay, Brother Mu, I will accompany you."

Hearing this, Xie Mu revealed a faint smile: "Then don't drag your feet."

Having said this, he stepped forward.

The green-skirted woman stomped her feet and hurriedly followed, the sound of bells echoing in the mountains.

She couldn't help but ask: "Brother Mu, how are you so familiar with this road on Mount Zhongnan?"

Xie Mu did not look back and said indifferently: "I have been here with someone before."

"Been here? It wouldn't be a woman, right? The small woods are not very elegant."

Xie Mu smiled at the corner of his mouth, ripples appearing in his eyes.

Just at this moment!

A grand voice rang out suddenly, shaking heaven and earth.

"Clang—"

The sound was like a bell but not a bell, like a drum but not a drum, as if it came from the sky, and also as if it were not.

On Mount Zhongnan, wild beasts all lay on the ground and barked low, and even the birds in the mountains were startled and fled in all directions.

Xie Mu frowned, his gaze like electricity, shooting straight at a place on the top of the mountain.

He saw ten thousand rays of rosy light there, like the rising sun.

"Tomb of the Living Dead?"

"Shaobao!"

He muttered in a low voice, then his eyes condensed, he picked up the green-skirted woman, his figure like an arrow, exploding out, shuttling through the forest.

The green-skirted woman was held by his waist, a blush appearing on her face, but she did not struggle, just grabbed his lapels tightly.

In the blink of an eye!

The two had landed in front of the Tomb of the Living Dead on Mount Zhongnan.

He saw that at the entrance of the cave, quite a few people had already gathered.

Seven figures wearing Daoist robes stood at the very front, their auras deep, either carrying swords or holding rulers, their expressions solemn, their eyes staring tightly into the tomb.

The green-skirted woman recognized at a glance that these seven people were the Seven Sons of Zhongnan, famous throughout the world.

Her heart tightened, she subconsciously lowered her head, her eyes dodging, not daring to look them in the eye.

As the head of the orthodox path of the world, people of the Demon Sect were all afraid of them like snakes and scorpions.

Yang Su, the fifth of the Seven Sons of Zhongnan, looked at Xie Mu and nodded slightly, saying: "Young Hero Mu!"

Xie Mu clasped his fists in return.

A flash of surprise appeared in the green-skirted woman's eyes; Brother Mu seemed to be quite familiar with the Seven Sons of Zhongnan.

That's strange?

She looked up at the Tomb of the Living Dead again, and a guess vaguely appeared in her heart—the person in this tomb was probably the senior uncle of the Seven Sons of Zhongnan, that Prince of Yan, Lu Chen, who lived in seclusion and practiced in legend.

Xie Mu's gaze was calm, looking deep into the tomb, as if waiting for something.

The green-skirted woman stood beside him, feeling both nervous and expectant, as if a world-shaking event was about to happen.

"Clang—"

Another loud noise, heaven and earth shook, the mountains moved.

The sound was indescribable, as if it gathered all the vicissitudes, thickness, and ancient simplicity of the world.

Everyone looked up, only to see an illusory great cauldron quietly appearing above Mount Zhongnan.

This great cauldron was so huge that it was suffocating; its size had already exceeded the entire Mount Zhongnan.

Its shape had towering ears, steady feet, and complex totems were engraved on the cauldron body; mountains, rivers, and streams wound and twisted, and flowers, birds, fish, and insects were lifelike.

The green-skirted woman's eyes were full of shock and awe; she felt as if she had witnessed the arrival of a miracle at this moment, muttering to herself:

"This... what is this?"

Everyone felt an indescribable sense of oppression rushing toward them; they felt as if they had fallen into an endless abyss, and their cultivation base was so small in front of this power that they couldn't exert it at all.

The green-skirted woman's mind was blank; she couldn't even think, only one thought echoed in her mind: could it be... that this is the catastrophe of heaven and earth, the end of heaven and earth?

She turned to look at Xie Mu, tears swirling in her eyes, her voice trembling as she said: "Brother Mu... I want to tell you..."

Xie Mu's gaze was locked tightly on the entrance of the Tomb of the Living Dead, and the Seven Sons of Zhongnan were also solemn, staring without blinking.

In the tomb, a figure walked out slowly.

A middle-aged man with slightly gray temples who looked somewhat weary, with a pair of bright eyes, walked out with a calm pace.

"Shaobao!"

"Senior Uncle!"

However, with the appearance of the middle-aged man, the pressure between heaven and earth became increasingly intense.

Xie Mu only felt his muscles and bones trembling, unable to stand steady anymore, kneeling on one knee.

Although the Seven Sons of Zhongnan could barely support themselves, they were also pale, cold sweat seeping from their foreheads.

The power of heaven and earth is like power and prison!

Only that middle-aged man seemed to be unaware of the power of heaven and earth, looking up at the great cauldron in the sky.

The sky of Mount Zhongnan appeared to transform into a scene.

The four were seriously injured!

An old man spoke slowly, "I have long been invincible in this world; you, now."

"Do you still have a backup plan?"

Lu Chen listened, standing with his hands behind his back.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 391 =====