Su Fengyao’s words shattered the cold atmosphere.

“Jin Fengqi, how come I never knew you were so concerned about Hu Ji?”

Jin Fengqi was annoyed, “You shameless Taoist Priest, stop talking nonsense! I haven’t even mentioned you yet. It’s one thing for Hu Ji to ogle that little girl, but why are you also staring at her? If you dare to do anything wrong to Chu Yue, you better watch out, or my Siyue Bow will shoot a hundred and eighty holes in you!”

Su Fengyao arched his eyebrow, a lazy mischief gleaming in his eyes. He stood up and walked up to the fuming Jin Fengqi, teasing, “I would never do anything to betray her. But what about you and Fan Zhi? Back then, you had a crush on him, but he ended up liking Chu Yue. Have you still not gotten over it?”

Jin Fengqi, embarrassed and angry, used her internal energy to summon her Siyue Bow from beside the chair, ready to shoot a few holes in Su Fengyao.

“Su Fengyao! Are you itching for a beating?!”

Seeing the situation escalating, Bai Tan stepped forward and held Jin Fengqi back.

“Fengqi, don’t stoop to his level. Ever since this despicable Taoist Priest stopped being a priest, he’s been nothing but indecent. Nothing decent ever comes out of his mouth.”

Jin Fengqi gave Su Fengyao a sideways glare, “Hmph! When she was around, you were as stiff as a board. Now that she’s gone, you’re all sweet-talking. Su Fengyao, do you feel guilty or do you truly love her? Ask yourself honestly, do you have feelings for her?”

“Alright, alright, calm down and sit down.”

Bai Tan pulled Jin Fengqi back to her seat.

Su Fengyao’s usual nonchalance vanished, his eyes weighed down with an unbearable heaviness, suffocating him.

Chu Yue had always been the one to take the initiative. Su Fengyao, using his identity as a Taoist Priest as an excuse, responded coldly to her overtures. But she seemed to have an ocean of love, continually probing and openly expressing her feelings.

Su Fengyao’s heart was moved, but he was afraid to accept it. He seemed to forget that even the vastest ocean can dry up. Her intense love gradually evaporated under his cold indifference until she finally gave up on him completely and married someone else. Only then did he realize his true feelings.

In retrospect, he felt he was truly despicable; his guilt probably surpassed his love.

Su Fengyao grimaced in self-mockery. He Wanyu was also curious about Jin Fengqi’s question: Did Su Fengyao truly love Chu Yue, or was it just guilt?

Seeing Su Fengyao’s bitter smile, it felt like a sharp needle had pierced He Wanyu’s heart.

Yan Lianpei wasn’t angry at all; instead, he laughed heartily, “Third Miss, no! I should address you as Mrs. Yuexia. The Xiyan Sect has long been gone. Why don’t you just settle down as the Wife of the Thunder Sect Leader? Why do you have to come here and stir up trouble? Didn’t your Second Brother come? Or the Cold Sparrow Sword Master?”

Bai Tan’s face turned grim. “I alone am enough to deal with a traitor like you!”

With that, Bai Tan shot needles from her sleeve, downing a group of enemies. She leaped up, as light as a feather, weaving through her assailants.

The people surrounding her barely caught on and quickly drew their swords and knives to block the flying silver needles.

On the high platform, a fierce battle ensued. Seizing the opportunity, Xi Hui led the innocent bystanders out of the River Moon.

He Wanyu and her companions watched the high platform with tense eyes.

Yan Lianpei’s eyes sharpened as he drew a soft whip from his waist and leapt up to the platform.

“Damn!” He Shiwen, seeing the situation turning unfavorable for Bai Tan, wanted to rush in to assist, but He Wanyu stopped him in time.

“Wait!”

He Shiwen was puzzled. Just then, Yan Lianpei’s whipping attack was interrupted by a sudden sword strike. Yan Lianpei executed a rapid side flip to evade it.

The Blue Phoenix Sword emitted a cold, sharp blue light and halted in mid-air. Yuexia Yu Shu lightly stepped onto the high platform and grasped the Blue Phoenix Sword. He floated, radiating an immense power from head to toe.

With a glance at the struggling Bai Tan below, Yuexia Yu Shu wielded the sword like a swimming dragon, swiftly dispatching the attackers. With a swift motion, he wrapped an arm around Bai Tan’s waist, lifting her effortlessly into the air.

Seeing Yuexia Yu Shu’s appearance, Yan Lianpei knew he was outmatched. He tried to reason, “Greetings, Cold Sparrow Sword Master. Master, I truly bear no ill will towards the Lady. Today’s setup was aimed solely at Langhe. I swear I wouldn’t lay a finger on her.”

Yuexia Yu Shu replied sternly, “Ridiculous. Langhe is my Second Brother. You plot against my Second Brother and claim to have no ill intentions?”

…

He Wanyu knew that with Yuexia Yu Shu present, Bai Tan wouldn’t suffer any harm. This matter was as good as resolved.

“Shiwen, let’s go.”

He Shiwen nodded, and the four quietly took their leave.

In a fleeting moment, Bai Tan caught a glimpse of He Wanyu’s figure.

At the same time, twenty miles outside the southern gate.

A refined young man in red, with flowing black hair, leaned lazily against a tree, clutching a long sword. His downcast eyes, set in a face as flawless as jade, lifted slightly as a gentle breeze passed, and he spoke softly, his red lips parting, “Since you’re here, stop hiding.”

The deep forest fell silent, then suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, and a group of men in black surrounded the young man.

“Langhe, I thought you were going to spend your whole life in the Thunder Sect and die of old age there!”

A woman leisurely walked towards Langhe, twirling a bamboo rod in her hand, her teal and blue garments swaying with her steps.

Langhe stepped forward, his gaze dark and penetrating as he looked at her. “Pei Mo, I didn’t expect the Tianluo Sect to send you.”

Meanwhile, four people walked along a road. He Qing’an asked He Shiwen.

“Shiwen, are you sure we don’t need to go help?”

“No need. With the Cold Sparrow Sword Master there, you won’t be needed.”

“Exactly. If you went, you’d probably just get in the way!” He Yi scoffed at He Qing’an.

He Qing’an lightly knocked He Yi on the head, “You cheeky girl! I’m your Senior brother. No matter what, I’m better than you!”

…

As the two bickered, He Wanyu’s mood grew somber. She found an excuse to leave hurriedly.

“Senior brother, I want to go have a look over there.”

He Shiwen had long seen through her intentions and nodded in agreement. He Wanyu happily skipped away.

The men in black charged forward. Langhe drew his Brocade Sword, but his hand was already unsteady. Pei Mo mocked, “Langhe, you can’t even hold your sword properly anymore, and yet you dare to come alone. Are you really this foolish, or are you simply tired of living?”

Langhe’s hand, gripping the sword, trembled violently. Looking at his own hand, he found it laughable. He gave up resisting and let the sword drop.

He Wanyu lowered her head to hide her disappointment, said a word to He Shiwen, and then left.

Seeing this, Hu Ji immediately chased after her.

Fan Zhi, with his keen eyes, noticed the odd behavior of Hu Ji and Su Fengyao, and He Wanyu’s reaction seemed even stranger. Could it be that they were really up to something?

Su Fengyao suddenly made a firm decision and dashed out.

“Hey! He… Bai Tan, look at him!”

Jin Fengqi, burning with rage, was about to chase after Su Fengyao to give him a beating, but Fan Zhi stopped her in time. “I’ll go check. You stay here.”

Without waiting for Jin Fengqi to respond, Fan Zhi chased after them.

Outside the tent.

Hu Ji caught up with He Wanyu.

“Little darling…” Seeing He Wanyu’s pained expression, Hu Ji knew she still cared about what Jin Fengqi had said. “Is it because of Su Fengyao?”

Su Fengyao happened to walk nearby and, although he couldn’t hear the first part of the conversation, he caught his own name at the end.

He Wanyu shook her head indifferently.

Hu Ji wanted to hug her but thought better of it. Instead, he gently and sincerely said, “Little darling, if there’s anything, tell me. I’ll always be here. Just call for me if you need me.”

He Wanyu looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you.”

Turning around, He Wanyu walked away, and Hu Ji watched her with longing eyes.

Su Fengyao grew increasingly suspicious about He Wanyu’s identity.

“Hu Ji!”

Facing each other directly, Su Fengyao grabbed Hu Ji by the collar. “Tell me, who is she really?”

Fan Zhi arrived just in time to hear the conversation.

Hu Ji sneered, “Who do you think she is?”

“Is she…” Su Fengyao’s emotion-charged questions were on the verge of bursting out, but he couldn’t bring himself to say her name. He couldn’t afford to hope.

Years ago, she had died in his arms, buried by his own hands. How could she reappear as another person?

Even speaking it aloud seemed absurd to him.

Hu Ji pushed Su Fengyao away, mocking him with disdain. “Su Fengyao, you can’t even say her name. Do you deserve her love? Don’t forget how she died. She was forced to death by you, by all of you!”

Hu Ji glared at him with gritted teeth, his fists clenched tightly at his side, and then turned and walked away with contempt.

Su Fengyao stood there, lifeless, and began to laugh. Slowly, the laughter turned into sobbing, and tears streamed down his face like broken pearls.

Fan Zhi, not far away, overheard the conversation between the two, and his mind buzzed with confusion, his face pale.

He Wanyu?

Who is He Wanyu?

What does she have to do with Chu Yue?

Fan Zhi had an unrealistic suspicion in his heart.

But this suspicion seemed impossible. Then how could he explain Hu Ji’s and Su Fengyao’s reactions?

All these questions weighed heavily on Fan Zhi’s heart like a boulder.

The war had dragged on for almost a year, with the Long Xia Kingdom ultimately emerging victorious and the troops returning triumphantly.

He Wanyu and her companions left a letter and had departed from the army the night before.

As expected, Hu Ji, feeling abandoned, chased after them without rest.

Everyone returned to their respective places, the smoke of war dissipated, people parted ways; who knew when they would meet again in the vast world?

After the triumphant return, Fan Zhi voluntarily relinquished his military power and then continued to wander the world with Fan Qiujin.

By a babbling stream and verdant mountains, He Wanyu sat barefoot at the water’s edge, playfully splashing in the water. He Shiwen was feeding the horses, He Qing’an handed He Wanyu a water bag, and He Wanyu took a few sips.

The gentle sunlight and tranquil time, with family by her side, made He Wanyu feel content.

“Another twenty miles, and we’ll reach Liuguang City. Once we enter the city, we can find an inn and have a good rest,” He Yi pointed towards the faintly visible city in the distance.

He Qing’an complained, “Finally, a comfortable bed! These past few days, it’s been either sleeping in trees or leaning on rocks. My back is killing me.”

He Yi teased, “Our Little junior sister hasn’t even complained, yet you have so much to say,” and shoved He Qing’an aside with disdain. She squatted next to He Wanyu and helped dry her feet.

He Wanyu’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Qing’an, have you been slacking off during your training again? Are you looking for Eldest Senior brother to give you extra practice?”

Upon hearing this, He Shiwen walked over with his hands behind his back, looking stern. Frightened, He Qing’an quickly retracted his complaints. “Suddenly, I think sleeping in trees and leaning on rocks isn’t so bad. As a martial artist, we shouldn’t have so many demands. It’s fine, it’s fine. Eldest Senior brother, I’ll go get the horses.”

He Qing’an dashed away in a flash.

He Yi and He Wanyu laughed gleefully at his misfortune.

The four of them raced down the official road, but a whistling wind approached from behind. He Shiwen shouted, “Watch out behind us!”

They simultaneously abandoned their horses and leaped into the air. The powerful wind blast flipped the horses over, leaving them lifeless.

Landing on the ground, each drew their weapons. A mass of black energy sped toward them from the front. They spread out as the black energy struck a tree, slicing it in half before it crashed to the ground, sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air.

The dust made it difficult to see. He Wanyu warily observed her surroundings. Feeling a chill behind her, she quickly spun around and slashed with her twin swords. Black energy collided with her blades, producing a shower of sparks.

The force numbed He Wanyu’s hands, and she twisted away swiftly. The powerful energy ripped the ground apart, scattering dust and rocks; it was a force that He Wanyu couldn’t possibly withstand.

The dust cloud separated He Shiwen from the others.

“Yu Er! Qing’an! Yi Er!”

He Shiwen called out anxiously, and then an eerie, ghost-like voice echoed from all directions.

“Eldest Senior brother, Eldest Senior brother~ it’s me!”

He Shiwen raised the Ranyu Sword in front of him, shouting, “Who are you? Come out; stop playing tricks!”

The voice turned pitiful, “Eldest Senior brother, have you forgotten me? It’s me, Yu Er. I’m He Wanyu—”

He Shiwen hesitated, then warned fiercely, “I don’t care who you are. If you dare to harm my Little junior sister, I’ll kill you, even if it means my own death!”

The voice grew angry, “Senior brother, I am your Junior sister. Why do you protect an unknown—”

“Shut up! What are you, anyway? Show yourself!” He Shiwen interrupted, furiously swinging his sword. The sharp blade split mountains and seas, dispersing the dust cloud enclosing them.

Now seeing clearly, He Shiwen desperately called out for He Wanyu, but that insane laughter, creeping and haunting, filled the air.

“He Shiwen, if you’re so heartless, fine. Since you don’t trust me, then I’ll drag your beloved Junior sister to hell with me!”

Suddenly, the voice stopped, and a dead silence settled around them. He Shiwen’s heart tightened as he frantically called for He Wanyu.

He Wanyu was still trapped in the dust storm, her vision obscured, unable to see her way out.

With her agile skills, He Wanyu managed to evade several deadly attacks. However, constantly dodging had drained her stamina, and she was now at her limit.

Black air masses attacked incessantly from all directions, forcing He Wanyu to stab her twin swords into the ground. Her gaze turned icy cold as she raised her hand, her fingers forming the Orchid Fingers.

A surge of powerful internal energy exploded from her body, then quickly retracted. The surrounding dust and wind swirled around her, howling violently. Her eyes, like pools of cold, dead water, threatened to engulf everything.

He Wanyu twisted her wrist, and the scenery around her froze in an instant. She unleashed the Guanyin Hand, and the sky darkened as thick clouds pressed down like a giant hand.

Boom!

Crash!

The earth and sky trembled as the explosion sent shockwaves outward for tens of thousands of feet.

In Liuguang City, at the Thunder Sect

The tremendous sound drew Bai Tan and Yuexia Yu Shu to a high vantage point.

Not far away, flocks of birds scattered in fright as an entire mountain peak collapsed from the explosion.

“Who could it be? Such power!” Bai Tan furrowed her brows. “Fujun, even with your current strength, you might find it difficult to match this.”

Yuexia Yu Shu speculated, “I can count the prominent figures in the martial world on one hand, and I haven’t heard any news about someone entering Liuguang City. Furen, who do you think it could be?”

Bai Tan thought for a moment and responded, “Among everyone I’ve ever met, besides my big sister, I can’t think of anyone else with such martial prowess.”

“Furen, I’ll take some men to check it out. You stay at home.”

“Be careful,” Bai Tan cautioned.

“I will.”

After Yuexia Yu Shu left, Bai Tan stared pensively toward the distant, now-quiet aftermath.

Yuexia Yu Shu quickly arrived at the official road, but all he found were signs of a fierce battle and the bodies of four horses.

Judging by the level of destruction, it was clear that an ordinary person could not have caused this. Yuexia Yu Shu closely examined the sword marks and suddenly noticed a charred, deep pit. The residual energy left him stunned.

“Guanyin Hand!” he exclaimed.

Seven days later.

The four of them, including He Wanyu, were seated by a tea stall, listening to the latest gossip from the martial world.

“Have you heard? The Guanyin Hand Manual has reappeared in the martial world!” someone exclaimed nearby.

“The Guanyin Hand Manual? Wasn’t that the signature martial art of Chu Yue, the leader of the Xiyan Sect?” another person replied.

“Yes, indeed! Five years ago, Chu Yue—though a mere woman—became renowned in the martial world through her mastery of the Guanyin Hand. She founded the Xiyan Sect, which should have become a cherished story in the martial world. But who could have expected her to act so erratically and coldly, blurring the lines between right and wrong? She stirred up so much trouble that she became a demoness everyone in the martial world wanted to eliminate.”

“Didn’t she die in a combined assault by various sects five years ago? The Xiyan Sect was fragmented and vanished after her death, and her famed Guanyin Hand technique went missing.”

“Exactly! After her death, various sects sought the Guanyin Hand Manual, leading to many disputes, but no one succeeded in finding it.”

“So how did it reappear after five years?”

“Word has it that this time the manual is going to be auctioned, organized by Boss Xi, the largest merchant in Liuguang City.”

“Looks like the martial world is about to be thrown into chaos again.”

“Selling the Guanyin Hand Manual at an auction—why isn’t anyone stopping this?”

“Who would? Who dares?”

“What about the Thunder Sect? Don’t forget, the current Leader of Thunder Sect, Cold Sparrow Sword Master Yuexia Yu Shu, is Chu Yue’s brother-in-law!”

“That’s right! His wife, Bai Tan, was the Third Miss of the Xiyan Sect and Chu Yue’s sworn sister.”

“That’s not all! I’ve heard that even the Deputy Leader of the Xiyan Sect, Langhe, is now at the Thunder Sect.”

“You mean Langhe, who once made a name with his One-Word Long Snake Sword technique?”

“Yes! But that’s old news. After the demoness Chu Yue died, the Xiyan Sect fell apart, and Langhe was ambushed and had his martial skills crippled. He’s been living a quiet life, tending flowers and plants at the Thunder Sect ever since.”

“Ah, the twists of fate! Who could have imagined the downfall of the once-mighty Xiyan Sect?”

“That’s right. Those who sow evil rarely live long…”

…

“He Wanyu! He Wanyu!”

He Yi called out several times before He Wanyu snapped out of her thoughts.

“What were you thinking about? So lost in thought. Here, have some peeled peanuts,” He Yi said, placing the white peanuts into He Wanyu’s hand.

“Thank you,” He Wanyu replied, eating the peanuts while reflecting on what the passersby had said. The opinions of the world were acceptable to her, but she couldn’t tolerate anyone targeting those dear to her.

Five years ago, after Chu Yue obtained the Guanyin Hand Manual, she destroyed the original copy. No one else in the world knew how to cultivate the Guanyin Hand. Even Langhe and Bai Tan had only a rough idea of its contents, and only a small part at that, which was essentially useless.

There was no longer such a thing as the Guanyin Hand in this world. So how could there be a Guanyin Hand Manual available for auction? This had to be a trap. The Guanyin Hand was the bait, but who was the prey?

He Wanyu speculated that Bai Tan would definitely attend the auction, as she couldn’t stand anyone using Chu Yue’s name to deceive others.

If Bai Tan would go, what about Langhe?

Could it be…

At River Moon.

This was the most luxurious restaurant in Liuguang City, owned by Xi Hui, the wealthiest man in the city.

River Moon boasted an intricate array of pavilions and towers and was always bustling with diners and drinkers. From the highest rooftop, one could enjoy a panoramic view of Liuguang City.

He Wanyu and her party mingled into the auction crowd, finding an inconspicuous corner to sit in.

The sound of drums and gongs reverberated, shaking the entire Golden Pavilion. All eyes focused on the resplendent stage, where Xi Hui stood in a luxurious purple brocade robe adorned with heavenly embroidery. His attire exuded opulence and steadiness, though his figure was corpulent.

“Esteemed guests, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to join us at my humble establishment. Today, I have acquired a rare treasure. As a man who does not practice martial arts, this treasure is of no use to me. Therefore, I thought it best to auction it off, finding it a suitable owner,” Xi Hui announced with a courteous smile.

He Wanyu had no interest in his polite banter and scanned the surroundings. She noticed that half the attendees were martial artists, though curiously, they were mostly minor figures. None of the renowned sects were present.

He Wanyu smirked, thinking, “This is even livelier than the Martial World Assembly.”

A voice from the audience interrupted.

“Boss Xi, let’s not beat around the bush. Everyone here today is interested in the Guanyin Hand Manual you have. This manual has been lost for five years, and during this time, many in the martial world have searched for it to no avail. Some have even caused trouble using it as an excuse. No one has seen the genuine article. How can you prove that what you have is real?”

“Yeah! How do you prove it?”

“Exactly! Show us some proof!”

“At least let us have a look at it!”

The crowd grew restless, but Xi Hui remained calm, soothing them. “Everyone, please, there’s no need to rush. I understand your concerns, so to show my sincerity, I’ve transcribed a section of the Guanyin Hand Manual for everyone to examine. You’ll be able to judge its authenticity for yourselves.”

With a wave of his hand, a large scroll unfurled above him, revealing the contents to the audience.

The text read:

“Burning heart sits with a thousand worries, Life and death are trivial concerns, Inverted Qi Sea stabilizes the empty cavity, Taming wild waves effortlessly, The circulation of the Qi gathers at the Profound Court, Blood turns into essence, sealing life and death.”

The sight of the scroll sparked a frenzy among the audience, their eyes gleaming as if they wanted to dive into the scroll itself.

He Wanyu glanced at it and let out a dismissive chuckle, silently thinking, “Fake.”

He Qing’an asked curiously, “Wanyu, why do you say it’s a fake?”

He Wanyu waved her hand dismissively, “Just a guess.”

She nonchalantly continued watching the stage.

He Shiwen, observing He Wanyu in silence, recalled the words spoken on the official road, feeling a growing sense of unease.

“This manual is definitely the real deal!”

An excited shout came from the crowd.

A cold, powerful voice echoed through the hall.

“Boss Xi, you only have that single section, don’t you?”

Bai Tan stood up amidst the crowd, elegantly and confidently making her way forward, drawing everyone’s attention.

Xi Hui cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. “Mrs. Yuexia, I never expected you to grace our humble restaurant with your presence. It’s truly an honor.”

Bai Tan, uninterested in pleasantries, got straight to the point. “Boss Xi, you and I are neighbors in this small city of Liuguang, seeing each other often enough. I don’t wish to make things difficult for you. I just want to know, who instructed you to sell this manual?”

Xi Hui dared not offend Bai Tan and said apologetically, “Madam, our client has forbidden us from disclosing their identity. We must uphold our rules; after all, we still need to conduct business. Please, don’t make this difficult for me.”

Bai Tan nodded, “Alright, I won’t make things hard for Boss Xi. But let me guess… Yan Lianpei! Come out here!!!”

With a furious shout, several men in the crowd drew their swords and jumped onto the stage, surrounding Bai Tan.

Bai Tan seized the opportunity to push Xi Hui off the stage, allowing him to leave.

The martial artists in the audience all retreated, afraid to step forward. From behind a silk curtain, a figure approached, exuding a murderous intent.

“Bai Tan, long time no see. I didn’t expect you to actually show up!” A deep, gravelly voice rang out.

He Wanyu, calm and composed, sat in a corner, cracking sunflower seeds, showing no intention of intervening.

He Yi recognized Bai Tan.

“Shiwen, isn’t that Miss Bai?”

He Shiwen glanced at He Wanyu beside him and said, “Stay put. We’ll see how this unfolds.”

Despite his words, his hand rested on the Ranyu Sword at his waist.

The person behind the curtain emerged. Yan Lianpei, dressed in fiery red attire, with an arrogant and haughty demeanor, cast a disdainful glance around.

Yan Lianpei was once an Elder of the Xiyan Sect. After Chu Yue’s death, he was the first to suggest splitting the sect to form a new faction. Nowadays, the Xiyan Sect is divided into two: one part followed Yan Lianpei and became what is now known as the Tianluo Sect, while the other group followed Langhe. However, three years ago, Yan Lianpei ambushed Langhe, crippling his martial arts. If it hadn’t been for Yuexia Yu Shu and the disciples of the Thunder Sect coming to his rescue, Langhe would have perished.

Since then, Langhe’s followers joined the Thunder Sect, and Langhe himself went into seclusion within the Thunder Sect.

Meanwhile, the Tianluo Sect thrived and gradually gained prominence in the martial world.

“Yan Lianpei, I knew it was you. Only an ungrateful wretch like you would auction off the Sect Leader’s martial arts manual!”

Bai Tan pointed at Yan Lianpei, her voice filled with vitriol, showing no regard for any formalities.