Chapter 137: Uncle the Sword Saint, Everyone Wants to Beat Him! Liu Jinyuan

Why is this thing so jumpy?

Chu Yang stared at Xu Changqing, momentarily at a loss for words; he said something to the others, then turned his head as the senior brother raised his sword to slash someone.

The broad‑eyed, thick‑browed fellow, after descending the mountain, grew increasingly irritable.

Shi Gonghu stepped forward then, clasped his fists and said, "I wonder what the young heroes wish to discuss; it seems we met by chance, does that mean we inadvertently broke the local customs?"

Li Xiaoyao sneered, "Still playing dumb? The people you sent here not long ago were all taken out by us; you must be anxious not hearing any news."

Shi Gonghu looked bewildered, beckoned Tang Yu to his side, and whispered, "Did His Majesty send anyone else before?"

Tang Yu was even more clueless, her gaze revealing a crystal‑clear foolishness.

Shi Gonghu let out a sigh and waved his hand at him.

Go play elsewhere!

Seeing his adoptive father's disappointed expression, Tang Yu realized she had again failed to please him, and she retreated dejectedly.

With a furrowed brow, Chu Yang looked at Li Xiaoyao and asked, "Who are you talking about?"

Li Xiaoyao replied casually, "I'm talking about those Moon Worship Cult members I buried; weren't the corpses burned by you, big brother?"

Shi Gonghu's gaze grew solemn.

The others were startled! At this moment, Shi Gonghu realized that the three youths before him were likely not foes; just as he was about to speak, Tang Yu jumped in, asking, "How did you learn about the Moon Worship Cult?"

"Finally you show your hand!" Li Xiaoyao flashed, lunging at Tang Yu. Since Zhao Ling Er disappeared, he had been holding his breath inside; now he finally found a place to vent.

Tang Yu was no ordinary bystander; the instant Li Xiaoyao launched his attack, she instinctively drew her sword to block.

She not only stopped Li Xiaoyao's blade but, using superb technique, absorbed most of its force, and at the moment his assault waned, she counter‑attacked.

The long sword slanted at a strange angle toward Li Xiaoyao's right shoulder; lacking combat experience, he couldn't react in time and watched helplessly as the blade pierced his shoulder.

Clang!

Li Xiaoyao's sword fell from his hand, and Tang Yu, instead of pressing the advantage, stepped back to stand beside Shi Gonghu.

He had expected praise from his adoptive father, but Shi Gonghu glared at him, leaving Tang Yu feeling instantly aggrieved.

"Brother Li!"

Xu Changqing stepped forward to inspect Li Xiaoyao's wound, found it shallow, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Chu Yang shoved a Blood Bodhi into Li Xiaoyao's mouth, and before he could react, he swallowed it.

"Brother Chu, what did you just feed me? My body feels so hot!"

The Blood Bodhi transformed into vital energy that surged through Li Xiaoyao's body, and the shoulder wound healed at a visibly rapid pace.

After the wound healed, the Blood Bodhi began to augment Li Xiaoyao's cultivation.

A single Blood Bodhi can save an ordinary person decades of arduous practice.

Shi Gonghu witnessed the Blood Bodhi's miraculous effect and grew increasingly curious about the identities of these youths.

"Young heroes, it seems there's a misunderstanding between us!"

"We are not members of the Moon Worship Cult; we are common folk from the Southern Zhou Kingdom, and we came to the Central Plains on urgent business."

"I wonder how you young heroes became entangled with the Moon Worship Cult?"

Shi Gonghu's demeanor was exceedingly courteous, causing Xu Changqing and Li Xiaoyao to waver in their judgment.

Chu Yang laughed, "It seems you are neither ordinary citizens of the Southern Zhou Kingdom nor members of the Moon Worship Cult..."

Shi Gonghu's lips curled, "Oh? According to your esteemed opinion, what should we be?"

Chu Yang replied calmly, "Soldiers."

Shi Gonghu's smile faded, and he nodded slowly, "Young hero, good eye."

Xu Changqing and Li Xiaoyao wore expressions of astonishment.

Tang Yu and the other subordinates looked tense, as if ready to spring.

"If you are acting on the Southern Zhou King's orders to go to Immortal Spirit Island to find Zhao Ling Er, there's no need; the Moon Worship Cult has already been there before you."

Shi Gonghu's face grew solemn upon hearing that; the remark exposed their identities and directly mentioned Zhao Ling Er, implying they had indeed encountered her.

The Moon Worship Cult got to Zhao Ling Er before them? Shi Gonghu clenched his fists, his entire qi boiling, clearly enraged to the extreme! Li Xiaoyao and Xu Changqing also grasped this group's identity.

Xu Changqing said in a lingering tone, "Junior brother, you knew all along; why didn't you warn us?"

Li Xiaoyao also looked plaintively at Chu Yang, having been struck by a sword for no reason.

Chu Yang retorted irritably, "How would I know what nonsense you're spouting? Did you even ask me? Your swords draw faster than my mouth, how could I have time to speak?"

Xu Changqing tilted his head forty‑five degrees toward the sky, as if nothing had happened.

Li Xiaoyao hurriedly bowed his head, tracing circles on the ground with his toes, fearing further scolding.

"May I ask what relation this young hero has with our princess? Can you tell us the princess's current whereabouts..."

Anxious and frantic, Tang Yu walked straight up to Chu Yang to ask.

"It's a long story; we are also after Zhao Ling Er. As for the relationship..." Chu Yang pointed at Li Xiaoyao, "He is Zhao Ling Er's husband; by title, you should call him the Prince Consort."

Everyone was startled! Shi Gonghu's face showed displeasure; a guy even Tang Yu couldn't beat—what right does he have to be their Southern Zhou Kingdom's Prince Consort?

Tang Yu didn't overthink; upon hearing Li Xiaoyao was Zhao Ling Er's husband, she quickly offered him an apology.

"So you are good people, sent by Zhao Ling Er's father to protect her?"

"Yes, Brother Xiaoyao, may I ask where the princess actually went?"

Facing Tang Yu's questioning, Li Xiaoyao's eyes darted away, his face full of guilt.

Xu Changqing could only recount the whole story on his behalf.

"Fate plays tricks!"

Shi Gonghu sighed, then looked at Li Xiaoyao and shook his head, "Since everyone is searching for the princess, why not act together? The more people, the more strength."

Xu Changqing nodded, "That works perfectly."

Li Xiaoyao said dejectedly, "We've swept the nearby area with our sword‑riding; your search will be the same."

"Sword flying?" Shi Gonghu sized up Chu Yang and Xu Changqing's clothes.

"Are you Shu Mountain disciples?"

"Exactly."

"Who is the sect leader?"

"Qingwei Daoist."

"Isn't it Yin Ruozhuo?"

"That's the common name of the Immortal Sword Sect's sect leader, the Sword Saint martial uncle."

"Immortal Sword Sect?"

Shi Gonghu didn't know about the Shu Mountain sword qi feud, so Xu Changqing's maneuvering left him a bit dazed, his face turning grim.

"No matter what, as long as it's not that bastard Yin Ruozhuo, it's fine!"

Shi Gonghu shouted angrily.

Xu Changqing secretly felt pleased.

Chu Yang clicked his tongue and sighed, "The Sword Saint martial uncle really is everyone's target."

Li Xiaoyao asked quietly, "What's the deal with that martial uncle? Even Ling Er's grandmother scolds him."

Chu Yang whispered a few sentences into Li Xiaoyao's ear.

Li Xiaoyao's pupils constricted sharply, and he exclaimed, "Damn it!"

Chu Yang quickly covered his mouth, "Low-key, low-key."

"Then what should I call him next time we meet?"

"Just call him martial uncle—what else could you call him? He has no relation to Ling Er."

"I just feel weird."

"Cut it out, you've got enough to worry about with your maternal grandfather!"

Li Xiaoyao: "???"

After teasing Li Xiaoyao, Chu Yang fell into thought; since Shi Gonghu's group had already appeared in the heart of Zhongyuan, A Nu should have arrived there a step ahead of them.

Thinking this, Chu Yang could almost be certain that Zhao Ling Er was together with A Nu.

He then turned his gaze toward Tang Yu.

A Nu's Red String Technique can create bonds via a red thread, each finger tied to a person, and Tang Yu is one of them.

The Red String Technique allows mutual sensing of each other's positions.

Shi Gonghu was discussing with Xu Changqing how to find Zhao Ling Er; seeing this, Chu Yang secretly brought Tang Yu to a corner and began to probe indirectly.

"Tang Yu, besides you, is anyone else coming to Zhongyuan to look for Zhao Ling Er?"

"Daoist Chu, I don't understand what you mean; the Witch King indeed only sent us over."

"I mean others who know of Zhao Ling Er's existence!"

"The others... could only be the Holy Maidens; as priestesses of the Bai Miao tribe, they are born to serve the descendants of Nv Wa."

"Right! Hasn't anyone from among them come over?"

"Probably not..."

Tang Yu suddenly froze, a clever and lively figure appearing in his mind, and he suddenly had a strong premonition.

"Father!" Tang Yu cast aside Chu Yang, rushed over to Shi Gonghu excitedly, and said, "I know how to find the princess!"

"How many times have I told you to stay calm and composed?" Shi Gonghu frowned slightly, not liking Tang Yu's demeanor.

Tang Yu clasped his hands and bowed respectfully, saying, "Father, A Nu may have come to Zhongyuan; she can use the Red String Technique to find the princess!"

A flash of light appeared in Shi Gonghu's eyes, "Continue."

Tang Yu said, "I can also use the Red String Technique to find A Nu, and finding A Nu will lead us to the princess."

Shi Gonghu snorted coldly, "At least you're somewhat useful."

Xu Changqing didn't know what the Red String Technique was, but he could roughly guess it was a person-finding technique, and his mind instantly relaxed.

At least we're not completely in the dark.

Thereafter, Tang Yu became a living GPS, and everyone followed his sense, walking from day into night.

Li Xiaoyao muttered quietly, "Will this actually work?"

Chu Yang gave him another flick on the forehead, "Can't you look at a map yourself?"

Li Xiaoyao, rubbing his sore head, pulled out a map for comparison, surprised to find they were heading toward Baihe Village.

Their course of action happened to be the previously planned route.

Xu Changqing sighed, "It seems Miss Ling Er's emotions have stabilized; presumably she went to Suzhou City to look for us, but we weren't there, so she could only follow the set route and hope to run into us!"

Li Xiaoyao clutched his head and wailed, "I'm really stupid; how did I not think to go back and check?"

Xu Changqing softly comforted, "Nobody expected it; you needn't blame yourself."

A few more days passed.

Tang Yu's fingers suddenly trembled violently, and he exclaimed with delight, "They're right nearby!"

Li Xiaoyao, without a word, stepped on his sword and flew into the sky, anxiously scanning the surroundings.

Chu Yang unfolded his awareness; since he couldn't sense Zhao Ling Er, he instead sensed those around her, and within a few seconds he received feedback.

"Follow me!"

Chu Yang chose a direction and strode forward swiftly.

Shi Gonghu looked at Tang Yu, who silently nodded.

Although they didn't know what Chu Yang was relying on, everyone still obediently followed behind him.

Li Xiaoyao shot forward like an arrow; as the scenery shifted, several figures appeared in his view, especially that silhouette in a light green dress, which had haunted his thoughts for days.

Even though the swaying snake tail made him feel a bit unfamiliar, it still couldn't block his longing!

"Ling Er!"

Ahead, Zhao Ling Er's body suddenly stiffened, and they slowly turned their head.

"Brother Xiaoyao!"

Both of them saw each other and rushed toward one another.

Everyone watched the scene with emotion.

Until…

A figure descended from the sky, abruptly landing between the two.

Li Xiaoyao ran straight into the newcomer's back, his vision instantly flashing stars, as if he had hit a solid iron plate.

Zhao Ling Er slammed on the brakes, carving a deep line into the ground.

"Chu… Daozhang?"

Zhao Ling Er looked timidly at Chu Yang.

"Miss Zhao, this humble Daoist has urgent business for you!"

Chu Yang said solemnly, "Can we speak privately?"

Zhao Ling Er nodded.

Watching the two depart, Tang Yu asked Xu Changqing, "Daozhang Chu's personality is truly indescribable!"

Xu Changqing replied awkwardly, "Junior brother wasn't actually that… indescribable; it's just that the situation has become increasingly serious lately."

Even Shi Gonghu couldn't help but remark, "He's ill and needs immediate treatment!"

Chu Yang led Zhao Ling Er to a secluded spot, produced a Food Demon Gu that had absorbed a Snake Demon and a Fox Demon, and asked, "Miss Zhao, how should this Food Demon Gu be used?"

A nervous Zhao Ling Er exhaled, began explaining to Chu Yang the method of taming the Food Demon Gu, and after finishing, smiled and asked, "Daozhang Chu, where did your Food Demon Gu come from?"

Chu Yang replied, "I happened upon it while exorcising demons; I hope Miss Zhao can keep it secret for me. For our sect, this Food Demon Gu is not considered orthodox."

Zhao Ling Er immediately agreed, sincerely saying, "Daozhang Chu, rest assured, I won't say more."

"Ling Er must also thank Daozhang Chu for resolving my predicament; had it not been for Daozhang Chu clarifying my identity, I imagine a huge misunderstanding would have arisen between me and Brother Xiaoyao."

Chu Yang shook his head, "Saying thanks is too polite…"

Zhao Ling Er smiled, about to offer a few flattering words, when she suddenly heard Chu Yang change his tone.

"How about converting it into something of equal value and giving it to this humble Daoist? That way you'll be happy, and I'll be happy too."

Zhao Ling Er: "..."

After a while, the two emerged from the small forest.

Everyone's gaze toward Chu Yang grew increasingly strange.

But Chu Yang didn't notice; only a faint regret lingered on his face.

Zhao Ling Er did not know how to raise a Golden Silkworm Gu.

It is said that in Miao Frontier, the Golden Silkworm Gu is a very high‑grade Gu insect, known to only a handful of people, and that does not include descendants of Nv Wa.

Nevertheless, Zhao Ling Er promised Chu Yang that once back in Southern Zhaoguo, she would do her best to locate the Golden Silkworm Gu for him.

All in all, it wasn't without any gain.

After someone interfered, Li Xiaoyao finally could discuss his yearning with Zhao Ling Er, and the tone of their reunion returned to normal.

Chu Yang despised such lovey‑dovey scenes the most; after greeting Xu Changqing, he found an empty spot and slipped into the Soul Palace.

When he emerged again, the Food Demon Gu in his hand had vanished, having become his own cultivation.

The effect wasn't as good as imagined; the combined power of the Snake Demon and Fox Demon was about two to three hundred years, but what he obtained was just over a hundred years.

He lost two‑thirds of the power.

"Clones have inherent flaws; we must find a way to repair them, otherwise we'll have to rely on sheer quantity in the future!"

Chu Yang originally intended to secretly defeat the Red Demon King alone, but now it seems better not to waste the opponent's thousand‑year cultivation.

Actually, he could trade Blood Bodhi for a Food Demon Gu with Zhao Ling Er; if one isn't enough, make a few more, since Blood Bodhi's value to Chu Yang has diminished.

Given his constitution, even if injured he can't use Blood Bodhi; it can only serve as candy.

Shi Gonghu had his subordinates light a campfire outdoors.

Zhao Ling Er, Li Xiaoyao, Anu and others sat around the fire, chatting and laughing.

They will spend the night outdoors tonight and set out for Baihe Village tomorrow.

Shu Mountain and Southern Zhaoguo lie in the same direction, so the current route need not change—for now.

Upon learning that Li Xiaoyao intended to take Zhao Ling Er to Shu Mountain, Tang Yu couldn't help but ask, "Why does Young Master Li wish to ascend Shu Mountain?"

Li Xiaoyao, reunited with Ling Er, wore a smile all day, "I intend to join the Shu Mountain sect so that Shu Mountain can help us deal with the Bai Yue Sect."

Hearing Shu Mountain's intention to assist, Shi Gonghu's eyes lit up, and he turned to Xu Changqing, "Daozhang Xu, is this truly the case?"

Xu Changqing was also taken aback, recalling Chu Yang's words, "Monk by day, layperson by night," and found the whole affair inexplicable, not knowing how to answer.

Thus Xu Changqing could only clutch his head in anguish.

Seeing this, Li Xiaoyao hurriedly stopped Shi Gonghu from further questioning, then whispered the reason to him.

A moment later, Shi Gonghu's gaze toward Xu Changqing softened with regret and kindness.

Why does everyone look at me with such eyes?

Xu Changqing increasingly felt that something was off.

It wasn't until Chu Yang returned to the group and explained again to Shi Gonghu that he finally relaxed, his expression becoming uplifted.

"I cannot speak rashly about the current magical power of the Bai Yue Sect, but if a master from Shu Mountain were to intervene against it, that would be ideal."

"Do not worry about Daozhang Chu's scorn; before arriving, I had already prepared to burn the Bai Yue Sect to ashes, but the Witch King could not make up his mind…"

Patriotic Shi Gonghu let out a mournful sigh; it was clear the old man had been holding his breath inside.

A Nu, standing nearby, heard Chu Yang and the others talking about Baiyue, frowned, and said unhappily, "Why are you bullying Uncle Baiyue? Uncle Baiyue is a good person!"

Shi Gonghu glared furiously, raised his hand in an instant, ready to slap the stinky brat.

"Ah!"

A Nu, frightened, tucked her head in, hurriedly hid behind Zhao Ling Er, and still found time to make a funny face at Shi Gonghu.

Chu Yang watched, wanting to laugh; being so shameless makes her a huge oddball.

"A Nu, how many times have I told you, the Baiyue Sect are not good people; if Daozhang Chu and his group hadn't arrived in time, Grandma and the sisters on Immortal Spirit Island would have been doomed!"

Zhao Ling Er, a bit angry, looked at A Nu with a solemn expression.

In A Nu's world, Baiyue has never done anything bad and has been very kind to her; she can't think of a reason to dislike him, but what everyone says makes her feel aggrieved.

"But those deeds were done by Baiyue Sect disciples; why blame Uncle Baiyue?"

"These matters were ordered by Baiyue; how could they be unrelated to him!"

"You have no evidence."

"It's something everyone knows; what evidence is needed!"

Li Xiaoyao and Tang Yu also joined in; one was deceived by the Baiyue Sect and almost made a grave mistake, the other has regarded Baiyue as an enemy since childhood.

Their hostility toward Baiyue was very strong.

A Nu couldn't argue with the two, pouted with a flushed face, and raised her hand to cast a spell to punish them.

Seeing the situation escalating, Chu Yang flashed to A Nu's side, pinched her hand, and halted the spellcasting.

"Stinky Daoist, let go!" A Nu struggled desperately, her little fist smashing toward Chu Yang's face.

The kingly aura vanished in an instant.

A Nu's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

Chu Yang pushed her into Tang Yu's arms, frowned, and said, "She is simple‑minded and easily exploited by Baiyue; it's better to make plans early."

Shi Gonghu said coldly, "If we don't cut it off, we'll suffer the chaos; it would be better to… right here."

Tang Yu quickly spoke, pleading, "Father‑in‑law, you cannot do this; A Nu is a disciple of Saint Gu."

"You're truly useless!" Shi Gonghu glared at Tang Yu, turned away, and sighed.

"Elder Shi, A Nu has been my playmate since childhood; please spare her." Zhao Ling Er also pleaded.

Shi Gonghu simply walked away, his eyes not seeing, his heart unbothered.

Zhao Ling Er looked pitifully at Chu Yang, "Daozhang Chu…"

Chu Yang shook his head, laughing, "When I said make plans early, I didn't mean to hurt Miss A Nu, but to guard against Baiyue's methods of using her."

Xu Changqing nodded, "Junior brother is right; Baiyue, being of the Miao tribe, knows Gu arts, and has profound magical power, we don't know what evil techniques he may wield; we can't defend against everything."

Tang Yu pondered, "From Daozhang Chu's perspective, what should we do?"

Chu Yang said, "In the short term, we split up; we can't let A Nu and Miss Zhao be together; we will take two routes to Shushan."

Zhao Ling Er hesitated a bit, wondering if this would be a bit unfair to A Nu.

"Before reaching Shushan, we must minimize the chances of encountering Baiyue as much as possible."

Chu Yang voiced his greatest concern.

Given Baiyue's temperament, if things get out of his control, the chance of him stepping in personally rises.

This is a Xianxia world; a BOSS's combat power cannot be expressed by simple numbers, which is the exact opposite of Saitama in the One‑Punch world.

Wizardry, Gu arts, and magic themselves represent countless possibilities.

Let's put it that way.

In theory, Saitama could defeat any BOSS in the Xianxia world with a single punch, but in a true life‑or‑death contest, there's an 80% chance the one who dies would be Saitama.

Shanben Yuanliuzhai Zhongguo and You Habah might fare slightly better than Saitama, because their abilities also defy ordinary logic.

However, this discussion assumes a human‑world BOSS like Baiyue as the target.

If it were a being of Mo Zun Zhong Lou's caliber, even several of us combined might not withstand it.

The group huddled around the bonfire all night, and finally decided that Tang Yu would take A Nu alone, while the rest would head to Shushan together.

However, the situation of two people was rather awkward.

Lin Yueru and Liu Jinyuan.

They originally came to help find Zhao Ling Er, and now should return to Suzhou City.

But given Lin Yueru's temperament, after hearing Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Ling Er's story, she has no intention of returning, constantly wanting to join in.

Her heroic spirit is no less than Li Xiaoyao's.

And even more absurd is Liu Jinyuan.

"Daozhang Chu, Daozhang Xu, Jinyuan wishes to join Brother Li in entering Shushan; may we?"

Liu Jinyuan's eyes burned as he looked at the two.

Not even Xu Changqing, Chu Yang himself was stunned.

"Aren't you the top scholar? In the future you'll govern a region!"

Xu Changqing looked at him in disbelief.

Liu Jinyuan said resolutely, "The internal turmoil of the Nanzhao Kingdom has already shown that whether one studies literature or martial arts, it seems unable to stop a monster like Baiyue from wreaking havoc in the court, unable to save the nation!"

"Only cultivation is the righteous path!"

(End of chapter)