Chapter 188: Burn Away Sin, Know the Jianghu

The place where the Black Tortoise Manifestation arrived was an unremarkable stone hut.

But this hut lay behind the meditation chamber, accessible only after passing through the chamber sealed by thick blue-steel rock—layer upon layer of locks, as if some intricate mechanism art, and Li Guanyi slightly raised his eyebrows.

He drew the Murong Qiushui sword from his waist.

The spirit fragment of Chixiao sword clung to Murong Qiushui.

Murong Qiushui sword spat out three feet of crimson cold light.

It was merely a heavy downward slash.

This immensely complex mechanism lock was split open outright; the boy kicked forward with a straight thrust, and the mechanism door crashed heavily to the ground with a boom, and only then did Li Guanyi realize that the Chixiao spirit fragment no longer lingered passively within his dantian as before.

Though it did not rage as fiercely as when encountering martial cultivators who practiced methods using humans as material.

But Li Guanyi could still command this sword with his soul.

By using the blade as a vessel, he could unleash a sliver of Chixiao's sharpness.

Li Guanyi sheathed Murong Qiushui, pressed the dark-gold face mask over his face—this item could defend against soul strikes and hidden attacks—then gripped his weapon in his right hand and stepped slowly inside.

Indeed, hidden arrows shot forth.

Li Guanyi commanded Shaoyang sword, whirling it swiftly, deflecting, severing, and shattering every arrow; the shattered fragments scattered across the floor, and only then did he step inside, seeing the Black Tortoise Manifestation circling around a metal box.

In its pea-sized green eyes lay both longing and revulsion.

The Black Tortoise Manifestation's reaction was clearly different from before.

Li Guanyi shook his grip and slashed open the box with his sword.

A strange sweet fragrance wafted out; the young Daoist frowned, stepped back half a pace, and said: "Fire Qilin."

The Fire Qilin cat, which had been lying atop him, lifted its head and yawned.

It spat out a cluster of Fire Qilin flame.

The Fire Qilin flame burned the sweet fragrance clean away.

Li Guanyi pulled from his pocket a finger-sized pastry made of oil-glazed dough, sprinkled with sesame, fragrant, crisp, and flaky, and shoved it into the Fire Qilin's mouth as reward, then stepped closer, frowning slightly.

Inside lay a pill, translucent as a jade gem, utterly free of any evil aura, instead radiating a grand, righteous aura—yet the auspicious Fire Qilin suddenly showed extreme revulsion and agitation.

Li Guanyi glanced around, randomly pulled out a book, seemingly a treasured item.

"Extreme Yin Blood Manipulation Technique, Superior Martial Art."

"When perfected, it can tear out an enemy's entire blood supply with a single palm strike."

"Those wounded by this technique experience violent blood surges; wounds refuse to heal…"

It was a martial art of the Yin-Yang Wheel Sect; Li Guanyi tossed it aside, then continued searching, finding many letters—he skimmed them rapidly, his expression growing colder; these letters documented interactions between the Yin-Yang Wheel Sect's branch and its other members, and also exchanges with 【Lady Huarui】.

"One hundred and sixty-six women's blood, refined into a single pill."

"One year of eternal youth."

"The world truly has such a good deal."

In the letters, Lady Huarui repeatedly urged the branch to deliver the pill, adding: "The first pill had extraordinary effects—my husband visits me often now, and his favor has deepened. Quickly brew the second pill; I will send all personnel and materials needed."

"And the medicated humans."

"I will send them all to you."

Li Guanyi stared at the words "medicated humans," then saw beside it a scroll titled "Technique for Refining Immortality Pill from the Gallbladder and Marrow of Children of Both Sexes"; Li Guanyi closed his eyes for a long while, then opened them, seeing the emotion in the Black Tortoise Manifestation's eyes—again, something precious, yet reviled.

The young Daoist gathered the letters and put them away.

He flicked two fingers, and Shaoyang sword, carrying his soul, shot out like a streak.

Everything in this place was shredded to fragments.

He then poured oil everywhere and set fire to the entire chamber, burning its contents to ash.

"To refine pills from humans—this is demonic art, and must be utterly eradicated!"

Li Guanyi exhaled, then swiftly examined the chamber's structure; finally, the Qingluan bird Manifestation faintly sensed life—he gripped his sword and rushed forward, discovering the prison of the Yin-Yang Wheel Sect.

Inside were young women, their clothes torn, their bodies marked by abuse.

Some had purple bruises beneath their eyes, others blood on their lips.

They were kept like livestock.

Seeing Li Guanyi, they lifted their heads; the front few women rose mechanically, walked forward, and raised their hands to unbutton their clothes—not from skill, but from instinct forged by torment.

Their movements were halted; the young Daoist's palm pressed down on their hands.

Li Guanyi drew a quiet breath.

"It's nothing. No—I mean…"

"I'm here to save you."

"You…"

He looked at these numb young women; the youngest was nearly his own age.

Li Guanyi exhaled softly and said: "You are safe now."

The women did not believe the boy's words—no one knew what they had endured—until he raised his sword and shattered their chains, then half-forced them outside; seeing the corpses strewn everywhere, their eyes flickered, and for the first time, emotion stirred within them.

Suddenly, someone screamed and flung herself onto the dead branch master's body.

She tore and beat at him; the other women rushed forward too.

The old man had strong internal energy and a hardened physique, yet his corpse was ripped limb from limb; the women then burst into loud sobs, and only now did they regain a trace of humanity.

Li Guanyi remained silent; he found the storage room, the silver and coins, and told the women to take whatever they could carry; finally, he stood before the mountain gate, watching the Yin-Yang Wheel Sect's branch, the women now dressed in new clothes, clutching their belongings, standing behind the gate.

Li Guanyi gripped his bow, picked up the last arrow; its tip pulsed with internal energy.

He whispered:

"Fire Qilin."

The Fire Qilin sulked; the long-tailed lion cat on his shoulder flicked its tail rapidly, slammed its right front paw angrily against his shoulder, and spoke in his mind: "Do you take me for a torch?"

"Again, the Fire Qilin, the Fire Qilin."

The young Daoist said: "One chicken leg."

The long-haired cat perched on his shoulder flicked its tail and licked its paw: "Three."

Li Guanyi said: "Two."

"Deal!"

The Fire Qilin spat a burst of flame; Li Guanyi's Crimson Dragon Qi ignited the arrow, which then shot forth using the Xue family's divine archery technique, leaving a trail of light and fire as it struck the main hall of this branch temple—Li Guanyi had already doused the place in oil and Hou Zhongyu's ignition powder.

Additionally, he had scattered flour throughout the hall, creating the basic conditions for a dust explosion.

The flaming arrow fell.

Boom!!!

The Fire Qilin's flame erupted into a massive blast; the next instant, a searing explosive shockwave obliterated the entire hall, nearly toppling it—the Fire Qilin's fire burned with extreme intensity, quickly reducing the entire hall, along with the other buildings and prisons, to ash.

These women insisted on waiting until the fire consumed everything—luckily, the Fire Qilin's flame burned swiftly.

The Yin-Yang Wheel Turning Sect's main hall burned to nothing.

Under the Fire Qilin's control, the flames subsided without igniting the mountain.

Li Guanyi lifted his gaze, staring at the Yin-Yang Wheel Turning Sect's plaque.

On either side hung a pair of couplets, painted in black lacquer with gold powder characters.

"Yin-Yang Wheel Turns, Undying."

"Heaven and Humanity Transform, Immortal."

Li Guanyi suddenly drew the Song-Wen Ancient Sword, filling it with internal Qi, and slashed twice—the sword qi flew like birds spreading wings, crossing each other as the young Daoist turned; the mountain gate plaque behind him was swept by the sword qi and slowly collapsed, falling.

The Black Tortoise Manifestation wandered through the entire mountain gate.

It disrupted the qi here—no one could divine anything now.

The Five of Divine Beast Villa had fulfilled the young Daoist's orders.

They drove off wild beasts, creating a commotion as if a hundred men were charging together, yet no loud sword or battle cries came from that direction; then suddenly, powerful qi surged upward, as if the buildings had been smashed—no one knew who had won or lost.

Before long, fire broke out.

So they gritted their teeth, picked up their weapons, and came over, thinking that at the very least, they could collect the young man's corpse.

But when they arrived, they saw the mountain gate flames had already died out.

The ashes had turned to white powder; from the mountaintop, everything looked a blinding white.

The young Daoist led the horse, which carried several weak women down the mountain; behind him, the mountain gate was now ash, and though his robe was stained with blood, his aura remained steady and deep—he looked nothing like a man who had just killed.

Kill, burn, scatter the ashes.

Ssshh—

The Five of Divine Beast Villa shuddered.

Yet they still stepped forward to help the women carry their things; as soon as they touched the items, they knew they were silver—faces changed, but after a moment's thought, they remained quiet, no further thoughts forming.

Li Guanyi led these dozens of young women down the mountain.

In truth, the farther they went, the harder it became; the women had wanted to flee the place at once, yet as they neared the town, they could hardly take another step—fear and dread held them fast.

It took a long time to bring them all back to the town and return each to her home.

Their families wept as they looked upon them.

Among the women, the one with the strongest will waited until she had calmed everyone else before slowly walking toward her own home—she had been taken away for months, yet this path home still felt familiar.

She had imagined returning countless times.

At the door, beneath the big tree, she heard voices from within—the children's, the elders', the man's—and she froze, unable to move for a long while, unsure whether to step forward or turn back.

The man in the courtyard had recently become lame.

He cared for the children and four elders.

The child complained that today's meal wasn't tasty, and as he thought this, he suddenly shouted:

"Mother!"

"It's Mother!"

The man's body trembled; he looked up and saw his wife, weeping like a drowned woman, standing by the door under the tree—he leapt up, took two stumbling steps forward, but his lame leg betrayed him, nearly sending him crashing to the ground.

He rose, hurried forward, and seized the woman's hand.

His lips trembled: "You're back?"

The woman wept uncontrollably.

No one asked about her time on the mountain, how she had survived, nor did anyone ask why the townsfolk hadn't rushed up to rescue them—in these chaotic times, staying alive matters more than anything else.

The man gripped her tightly, pulled her back to sit, then returned to fetch a bowl and a pair of chopsticks, filling the bowl to the brim with rice: "Eat."

"Good food—salt, oil, and meat added."

"Don't let it get cold."

The young Daoist held his sword, leaning against the wall, exhaling slowly.

Killing, saving—yet his inner qi remained unsettled.

The Chi Xiao Sword still sang within his heart.

Was it the sword singing—or his heart unrested?

Back at the inn, Li Guanyi found the silver-haired girl still waiting quietly; the Canggu Daoist was sipping tea. Li Guanyi told them everything. Canggu Daoist merely lowered his gaze, saying nothing; Yao Guang watched Li Guanyi in silence.

Li Guanyi paused, then said: "Can we go to Beicheng first?"

Yao Guang looked at Li Guanyi, her voice calm: "Are you going to kill someone?"

Li Guanyi did not know how to answer.

He was going to kill—Hua Rui Lady. To ignore such a thing would leave him unsettled, and he had a way to kill her: the Po-Yun Zhen-Tian Bow could strike with absolute accuracy, and fire an arrow over several miles.

No matter what, Li Guanyi must shoot this arrow, whether it kills or not.

Yao Guang looked at the young Daoist.

The silver-haired girl felt no hesitation or condemnation.

She simply placed her hand on Li Guanyi's wrist and said, calm and direct:

"I'll help you."

The ancient Daoist gazing at the mortal world slightly lifted his eyes, watching the boy and girl—one ready to kill, the other ready to hand him the blade—and he sipped his wine casually, thinking of their futures.

Li Guanyi looked at Yao Guang, said nothing, only replied: "Alright!"

With the girl here, his chance of success rose sharply, and his chance of escaping safely became one hundred percent; as for the Fire Qilin Hunt, Li Guanyi had no interest in joining.

The letter mentioned a connection between the Fire Qilin Hunt and the Yuwen Clan.

And the slaughter of civilians.

Isn't this clearly colluding with foreign enemies?

Then we'll head straight to Beicheng Pass.

Go to the Xue Family Money House, send the news directly through the Xue Clan to Xue Lao, let Xue Lao mobilize official forces to wipe them out—this matter must be handled, but not recklessly; it requires courage and strategy, not blind rashness.

Four Grand Masters of Wu Gong—any one of them, Li Guanyi could not defeat.

Among the strongest warriors in the vast martial world spanning the northern reaches of Chen State and the southern borders of Ying State.

Even if they're not as strong as General Yue Qianfeng or Xue Daoyong, their internal Qi cultivation is roughly equal; as for combat power, that's another matter—Li Guanyi is at the Second Heaven level of internal Qi, yet he can still ruthlessly slay the aged leader of a Third Heaven branch temple.

Internal Qi is only one factor in determining victory.

But when the gap in this factor is immense, no other strength can compensate.

Still, with the Fire Qilin beneath him, he can retreat.

Though the Fire Qilin's burst of power won't last long, within that time it can restrain Xiao Wuliang, who isn't giving his all.

This matter exceeds Li Guanyi's strength limit and carries great risk—so he'll hand it directly to Xue Lao, let Xue Lao mobilize the troops of Beicheng Pass to resolve it; meanwhile, he can use the troop movement as cover to cross the border with his aunt and Yao Guang.

The boy thought to himself.

"Xue Lao, you've just become Chancellor—you must be starving for achievements."

"Thanks for looking after me these past few months."

"Before I leave, I'll give you a parting gift."

Li Guanyi planned to depart at nightfall, just as Yao Guang said—he didn't want the townsfolk to once again spend their meager savings thanking him; under the moonlight, he quietly untied the ox cart's reins.

He stuffed a handful of hay into the old ox's mouth and let it chew as it walked out.

The five from the Divine Beast Manor also planned to leave at this time.

When asked why, they answered bluntly:

"We're out of money!"

"Next stop, the stable!"

Li Guanyi laughed. The moonlight was clear, the wind just right; he urged the ox cart forward. The town guards were startled: "Master Daoist, where are you going, Master Daoist!" They tried to chase after him, but the old ox stepped out with surprising speed—they couldn't catch up.

The young Daoist waved back at the town, laughing loudly:

"The martial road is long—take care, all of you!"

"Farewell!"

The big man opened his mouth to say more, but the ox cart was already far away; he stopped, suddenly knelt down, and bowed his head deeply several times to repay the debt of saving his child. Li Guanyi drove onward, while Lei Laomeng and the others followed on horseback.

At a bend, Lei Laomeng said: "Master Daoist, let's part here."

"We thought it over—we won't go to Beicheng City. With our Wu Gong, we're better off finding a quiet place and living peacefully. Beicheng is too deep in the martial whirlpool—we might capsize any day."

"Yes, Master Daoist, we bid you farewell."

Li Guanyi pulled off a money pouch and tossed it lightly.

It was the portion he had taken from them; he bowed and smiled:

"Gentlemen, please!"

Lei Laomeng, overjoyed to see his silver returned, tightened his reins and bowed from horseback: "Master Daoist, please!"

They exchanged smiles. Lei Laomeng laughed heartily: "We might've started as enemies, but now we're friends. We're bottom-dwellers of the martial world, forever struggling—today doing this, it feels like we've honored our youthful dreams of the Jianghu."

"At the end of our lives, we haven't wasted our time in the Jianghu—we've proven that men like us still have courage in our hearts."

"The martial road is long, Master Daoist—Precious!"

"We'll meet again in the Jianghu!"

"Farewell, Jianghu."

They pulled their reins, turned their horses, and galloped away under the moonlight; under the moonlight, two groups parted—the boy bowed, and only when their figures vanished did he sit back down and crack the whip to urge the ox forward.

The old horse knew the way, but the old ox moved even more peacefully.

Li Guanyi lay on the straw, hands behind his head, gazing at the starry sky and moonlight, then suddenly said: "Yao Guang."

The silver-haired girl tilted her head: "Hmm?"

Li Guanyi said: "I feel… I have no feeling left for the Jianghu."

"A hero saves one person, then many—but after we leave, won't new villains arise here? Won't another Yin-Yang Wheel Sect appear?"

"They will."

"Treating symptoms, not the root—what's the point of running all your life?"

The boy stared at the sky, opening his five fingers.

The ox cart creaked.

He seemed to see faces: Dantai Xianming, Xue Daoyong, Emperor Chen Dingye, Chen Wenmian, Yuwen Lie, Jiang Gao, Jiang Yuan, Li Zhao Wen, the unseen Regent, the Emperor of Ying State, the Khan of the Turkic steppes, the Supreme Divine General of Ying State, the Grand Tutor.

The Four Great Legends, the Ten Grand Masters, the Imperial Academy, Zhongzhou, the Red Emperor, the Hegemon.

Then he saw the White Tiger Seven Mansions in the sky.

The water of the Jianghu is too shallow.

You can't let me go!

Li Guanyi extended his five fingers, then clenched them tightly.

Just as Po Jun had hoped.

Flames quietly rose in the depths of his eyes; having witnessed the great heroes of Jiangzhou, he knew well what his own path must be—not Jianghu, not simple acts of chivalry, but those two words.

The world.

Having seen the great heroes of the world, having known that mighty and vast spirit, the water of Jianghu.

Too shallow, and muddy.

"After leaving Beicheng, let's go find Auntie."

Then to Jiangnan, then to Longyou, toward the world.

The boy smiled, his gaze calm.

After a long while, he said:

"Jianghu has lost all meaning."

The Daoist Priest looked at him and said coolly, "The water of Jianghu is too shallow to hold you. What of a knight-errant?"

Li Guanyi felt this old Daoist Priest liked picking on him: "A knight-errant is fine, but for fame and profit, that's petty chivalry; if you speak of great chivalry, isn't it about serving country and people?"

The Canggu Daoist looked at him, then suddenly laughed, speaking lightly:

"Which country are you serving?"

Li Guanyi choked, staring at the Daoist whose words had blocked him.

The Canggu Daoist gazed at him, his eyes calm, yet as if seeing straight into Li Guanyi's heart. He extended a hand, pointing vaguely at the boy's chest, his voice light, smiling: "Is your ambition to be a great knight-errant?"

Silence stretched for a moment.

Li Guanyi leaned back, crossing his legs: "I'm not talking to you!"

"I've been fighting all day—I'm hungry, Yao Guang, got any snacks?"

"No steamed buns!"

The silver-haired girl seemed to sigh helplessly, yet her face showed no expression.

She rummaged through her pack and pulled out some snacks.

A hard steamed bun jabbed into the boy's face, denting it inward.

Jab. Jab.

"Huh?! Even roasted buns? No way!"

"Even the Fire Qilin won't eat them!"

"Meow—Aowuu!"

The Daoist over there slightly lifted his gaze.

You brat!

……………………

And just two days after Li Guanyi and the others left this place,

Two people arrived at the scorched, white-blank ruins of the Yin-Yang Wheel Sect.

"You say the aura appeared here, right, Elder?"

"Yes, strange—why has it vanished again?"

An old man with white hair rubbed his temples in frustration.

Beside him stood an elder in blue robes, a willow branch hanging at his waist, his bearing composed.

Sword Madman!

Arrived!