Chapter 304 The beautiful woman in the Taoist robe encounters an old friend again; the flower thief and the ruthless villain are all wiped out.

The Western Regions are filled with countless Buddhist temples and monasteries, all believing in reincarnation. In the Northern Heavenly Regions, there is a Tantric sect dedicated to reincarnation, desperately searching for the location of the netherworld… Theories about the netherworld abound, yet no definitive conclusion has ever been reached.

When Zhang Zhisong wrote his book, he was only in his early thirties. His conviction about the existence of the netherworld is a matter worthy of deep investigation. Li Xian, thoroughly engrossed in the observation, left Huai'an County and sought out a river to gaze upon it.

He wished to use the experience contained in the book to read the river, understand the river, and manipulate the river... to observe the river's course and the various conditions within it. Li Xian was naturally gifted, and given the gradual deepening of the principles in the Kan-Nei-Mai technique, he quickly grasped the first half of the book.

This river is called the "Wanhu River". It floods in July and August and dries up in March and April. The river initially flows south for about 700-800 li (approximately 350-400 kilometers), then suddenly turns east. It has three tributaries along its course. Some of these tributaries flow inland and then disappear.

Some tributaries flow into underground rivers and merge into other river basins.

Based on his reading and understanding of the river, Li Xian gleaned a general idea. Seeing that it was still early, he walked along the river, verifying his guesses one by one. Although the information he gleaned was not necessarily entirely accurate or complete, it was certainly useful.

[Skill: Reading the River]

[Proficiency: 1/100]

[Description: Having read countless rivers and lakes, nothing is impossible.]

Li Xian was deeply pleased. He had gained more, and his knowledge had become even richer. Although Zhang Zhisong had a grand ambition to read all the river veins in the world and compile them into a "River Book," as written in the "Kan Nie Mai Shu," he was not alone in this endeavor, nor was he the first to do so, given the long history of the world.

Since ancient times, scholars have sought to compile the "Book of the Rivers." However, only those scholars blessed with exceptional fortune can succeed in this endeavor. This is because most river basins are occupied by powerful and influential families. The process of compiling the "Book of the Rivers" requires dealing with these families. Scholars, possessing this fortune and not practicing martial arts, find it safer to interact with these families. They can persuade and communicate through words, avoiding any major conflict or physical altercation.

Moreover, this matter involves destiny... Li Xianzong admired Zhang Zhisong's character, and from the "Kan Nie Mai Shou" (a martial arts technique), he sensed a deep sense of helplessness, regret, and self-pity about his short lifespan and inability to fully compile the River Book. He thought to himself that he was already a second-realm martial artist, with a lifespan far exceeding that of ordinary people, yet he could not help Zhang fulfill his wish.

Li Xian immersed himself in this path. He visited two river channels, observing the river's course. As his knowledge grew, he experienced a sense of seeing mountains as not mountains, and water as not water, a feeling of something seemingly real yet not quite real. His skill in "reading rivers" improved to [2].

Night was falling.

He was delighted to have acquired this new skill, but he couldn't neglect his important duties. So, Li Xian hid the "Kan Nie Mai Shou" (a martial arts technique) under his clothes and returned to the pleasure boat.

Tomorrow they will set sail along the river towards Feilong City. Many laborers are gathered beside the flower boat, unloading heavy boxes back and forth. Li Xian inquired and learned that Tang Feng had sold all the "Frosty Heart Strange Fish" to the "Zhong family" in Huai'an County.

The Zhong family was a wealthy and powerful clan in the area, and they spent over four hundred taels of silver to buy all the fish. Although this amount of money was small, it accumulated over time. Tang Feng then went on a large-scale purchase of porcelain, bowls, and other utensils from Huai'an County, which he then transported to distant places to sell.

This adds several more layers of benefits.

Tang Feng arranged the goods overnight. Li Xian learned from him and absorbed his experience. The next day arrived in the blink of an eye, and the scattered disciples of the Flower Cage Sect regrouped. There were more of them than before, because the disciples' scattered activities had attracted some of the scattered disciples to gather together.

Tang Feng shouted, "Raise the sails!" The sails billowed in the wind, puffing up like balloons. The pleasure boat sailed southwest along the river, disguised as a merchant ship, and its activities were indeed those of a merchant.

The journey was safe and uneventful.

The journey took about two days.

The flower boat turned into another waterway.

This river is called "Juansha River." Li Xian observed that the water was mixed with yellow silt and was extremely turbid. Combining this with his knowledge from the "Kan Nie Mai Shou" (a martial arts technique), he knew that this river was deep and dangerous, with many hidden currents and tributaries. There must be many river bandits lurking along its course.

Li Xian gazed at the river view and thought, "Three hundred miles ago, there was a tributary of the river. If the pleasure boat were to turn into that tributary, it could head southwest and perhaps get closer to Flying Dragon City faster. Moreover, the current in that river is fast but not swift, and quite calm. Why suffer such a bumpy ride?"

He had his own judgment, but refrained from offering any advice. This is the beauty of the "Kan Nie Mai Shou" technique. Tang Feng had been shipping this waterway for decades and was quite familiar with its conditions. His chosen route was undoubtedly correct. However, the river's network is complex and intricate, with unexpected routes. If one were proficient in "reading the river," understanding its conditions and pathways, it would be easier to find previously undiscovered shortcuts.

Amidst the surging yellow sand, several dark dots suddenly appeared on the river. Several small boats were seen approaching, accompanied by laughter, shouts, and the pounding of drums. It turned out to be bandits from the river; seeing the merchant ship, they approached menacingly, intending to intercept it. Tang Feng cursed, "Damn it, shoot them!"

At a command, the disciples of the Flower Cage Sect, armed with bows and arrows, fired at the river bandits. Knowing that this boat was not to be trifled with, the bandits scattered and fled.

[Proficiency +1]

...

[Skill: Reading the River]

[Proficiency: 3/100]

About a day later, the pleasure boat docked at a city port. This city was "Fufeng City," where Tang Feng met with a porcelain merchant, intending to sell his wares.

This time, things didn't go as planned. The porcelain dealers were quite difficult to deal with, trying to drive down the price. Although Tang Feng made a small profit, after all this trouble, it was clear that he had accomplished very little. This incident also annoyed him, so he decided to stop using the transport service and instead increase the ship's speed to hurry to Flying Dragon City.

They quickly reached the end of the waterway and arrived at a place called "Wujia Mountain". Tang Feng anchored the flower boat and sent two people to watch over it. The rest of the people changed their clothes.

Tang Feng said, "Brother Hua, would you rather be a wealthy man or a young master?"

Li Xian was puzzled and inquired about the reason. It turned out… the rest of the journey required walking. With dozens of Flower Cage Sect disciples accompanying Tang Feng, wouldn't such a large group attract attention? The Flower Cage Sect had infiltrated Flying Dragon City intending to cause trouble and plunder.

Naturally, a low profile and caution were necessary. Tang Feng had decided to feign a merchant caravan, which included a diverse group of people such as the caravan leader, guards, grooms, servants, and wealthy merchants. If there were any captured beauties in the caravan, they would be given additional identities: "daughters of noble families," "married young women," and so on.

Moreover, this caravan might not be entirely fake. Tang Feng's "wine," "honey," "dried flowers," "pollen," and many other goods were all being transported to Flying Dragon City for sale. It was indeed a legitimate business transaction.

It can be described as flawless.

Li Xian said, "With Brother Tang here, how dare I usurp the throne? Please give me some swords and I'll act as your guard." Tang Feng said, "Brother Hua, don't blame me for not reminding you. Although we are pretending, our business dealings are real. Every position requires a certain level of effort. Since you are a guard, you need to dismount and walk, and take turns on night shifts. Only in this way can we avoid giving ourselves away."

Tang Feng advised, "So... you should just play the role of someone sitting in the carriage. Besides, your appearance and demeanor don't seem like those of a guard."

Li Xian thought to himself, "This is better. I can better conceal myself. If we encounter danger, I won't attract the enemy's attention, and I can deal with the situation calmly." He said, "No need. I will act as your protector. I will fulfill my duty as a protector. This is my original skill. Elder Tang, you don't need to worry that I won't do it well."

Seeing this, Tang Feng said nothing more, feeling a pang of regret. Since he was now a wealthy man, he changed into brocade robes. Li Xian, on the other hand, carried a spear, wore a headscarf, and tried to appear as ordinary as possible, hiding among the guards.

The three disciples of the printing shop, Kong Yu, He Wangfu, and Wei Ze, were all guards. After loading the goods into the carriages, a caravan was formed.

The remaining journey would require walking, slowing the pace slightly. Although Li Xian served as a "guard," he had time during midday and evening to circulate his internal energy and refine his martial arts skills.

[Sculpting bone embryo]

[Proficiency: 6/100]

[The Five Viscera Avoid Turbidity and Meet Yang Classic - Chapter on the Five Viscera]

[Proficiency: 1658/24000 (Mastery)]

...

Feilong City boasts a unique, elevated terrain. Huaiyin Prefecture is a prosperous water town, but as the seasons change and the weather cools, snowflakes begin to fall. However, it doesn't experience the endless, relentless snowstorms of the impoverished Tianfu Prefecture.

The journey was proceeding smoothly. In a few more days, they would reach Flying Dragon City. At noon that day, Tang Feng noticed that the surrounding area was remote. Although it was still early, just past noon, continuing the journey would inevitably mean enduring wind and rain, sleeping in the open, and suffering the hardships of the elements.

Therefore, upon seeing the inn early in the morning, they called out, and all forty-odd people entered. They stayed there for the night. The next day, they set off again early in the morning.

This inn, named "Fangxian Inn," though situated in the remote wilderness, boasts a tranquil and picturesque setting, far from being a small inn. The inn itself features a landscape of mountains and water, and can easily accommodate over forty people.

Tang Feng invited everyone to sit down. With a wave of his hand, he ordered fine wine and dishes to warm them up, followed by a variety of hearty dishes such as mutton, pork, and beef. The "Fangxian Inn" was quite spacious, with candles burning on all sides and heated kang beds at the tables.

While waiting for the food, everyone sat at separate tables, warming their hands and feet on the heated brick bed. The waiter, quick and efficient, first brought over jars of fine wine. Boiled over a fire, the wine emitted a fragrant aroma and steamed hot. Everyone eagerly drank a bowl, the comfort of the hot wine going down their throats in words.

Tang Feng instructed, "Brothers, I ordered some drinks to warm you up, not to get you drunk. Let's all know our limits and not overindulge. If anyone can't be woken up tomorrow morning, don't blame me for abandoning you."

Li Xian thought to himself, "As expected of the old thief, his experience is superb, there's not a single flaw." He also took a sip of hot wine, and when the waiter brought over the dishes, he asked, "Shopkeeper, your inn looks quite big. The decor and scenery must have cost a lot of money, right? Will you make a profit?"

Tang Feng listened intently, but also felt doubtful.

The waiter said, "Sir, you've come to the right person. We have to thank Lord He of Flying Dragon City for this. If it weren't for him, you... you might be facing wind and snow tonight, and you wouldn't have such a nice inn to stay in."

"You must be heading to Flying Dragon City to do business, right?"

Tang Feng said, "Oh? You have quite the keen eye, waiter." The waiter chuckled, "It seems you've come from afar and are new to Flying Dragon City, so you may not know much about it."

Everyone listened quietly. The waiter said, "Flying Dragon City has a unique location, perched high up. Recently, most of the merchants and travelers seeking lodging here are heading to Flying Dragon City. It's nothing that I just guessed offhand and happened to be right."

The waiter respectfully said, "Just as this guest has said. Our Fangxian Inn has been built with a huge investment of money. This place is remote and sparsely populated. We rarely see travelers even after several days. Naturally, it is not cost-effective. But unfortunately... Lord He is no ordinary person."

Tang Feng became curious and asked, "Please tell me in detail, what makes this City Lord He so extraordinary?"

The waiter said, "Lord He of Flying Dragon City is truly exceptional; he is known for his kindness and generosity. This gentleman is not only generous but also righteous and extremely hospitable."

"He was kind and generous to the common people, helping them repair their homes and settle down. He was even more so to his friends in the martial arts world, being warm, generous, and righteous."

"Take our inn for example. Why would an ordinary person build such a luxurious place here? Wouldn't that be like having money to burn? But Lord He waved his hand and built dozens of them along the way."

He asked again, "Dozens of seats? Is it really because you have money to burn?"

The waiter said, "This is the reason for your good intentions. Lord He said that Flying Dragon City is remote and poor, and often friends from the martial arts world come from afar to visit because of his name. He felt that he had not been hospitable enough. Recalling the winding roads along the way, he only hoped that all those who pass through Flying Dragon City would not have to endure wind and rain, but could also enjoy the scenery and have fun."

"Therefore, money was spent to build the inn into a fresh and elegant place. So, you gentlemen have come from afar and are able to stay in such an inn. We should really thank Lord He for his kind heart."

Li Xian thought to himself, "If the rumors are true, this City Lord He is indeed an excellent person." Extremely curious about Flying Dragon City, he asked, "Buddy, what are some of the wonders of Flying Dragon City?"

The waiter said, "There are many!" He became very enthusiastic and described all the sights in the city.

The most famous place is undoubtedly the "Worry-Relieving Pavilion." It was built with all the resources of Flying Dragon City. It is said that City Lord He is extremely sociable and has friends all over the world. Occasionally, when two parties have grievances or conflicts of interest, and since they are both friends of City Lord He, they will go to the Worry-Relieving Pavilion together, where City Lord He will listen to their reasons, grievances, and demands, and mediate between them.

Before even entering Flying Dragon City, they already had a glimpse of its inhabitants. The waiter brought tea and water, and quickly served all the dishes, with several large plates of meat laid out on the table, making one's mouth water. In the inn's lobby, while the wind and snow howled outside, it was warm and comfortable inside, where everyone was drinking and eating meat in a lively atmosphere.

They were enjoying their meal immensely, and all sorts of risqué jokes were being told. Since everyone was a disciple of the Flower Cage Sect, they spent their days searching for, picking, capturing, playing with, and manipulating flowers... their minds were always filled with women, so their conversations naturally revolved around the words "lewd" and "vulgar."

The inn's door was suddenly flung open, and wind and snow blew in. A woman's voice came from outside: "Master, there's an inn here. Come in and warm up."

Then came a male voice: "We originally expected to have to camp in the wilderness tonight. We're lucky, Master. Please be careful, there's a lot of snow here and the roads are slippery."

Upon hearing the voice, Li Xian felt it was somewhat familiar and realized where he had heard it before. He turned to look outside the door and saw a young woman in a green dress enter the inn, patting her shoulders and shaking off the snow.

The woman was beautiful, with a jade-inlaid sword at her waist. In the candlelight, the sword shimmered with iridescent light, quite remarkable. Despite the cold winter, her clothing was light and flowing; she wore a green silk dress embroidered with gold thread and fish patterns, a sachet and jade pendant at her waist, and a short skirt that revealed her fair legs. The wind and snow made her appear as delicate as jade.

She wore animal-hide boots. A few fine snowflakes drifted to the edge of the boots and slipped inside through the seams. The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing, but didn't show it, her face still displaying an air of arrogance. The disciples of the Flower Cage Sect stared in disbelief, envying the Snowflake's good fortune.

She was charming and lively, a real eye-catcher.

The Dawu region is vast, and its people have diverse customs and traditions. Women's clothing is unrestricted and depends entirely on their temperament and personality.

The group of women in the flower-filled inn were all lecherous men. After days of arduous practice, they suddenly encountered such beauty, and all stared at her with blatant lust. The woman frowned and took a half-step back. Her senior brother, walking into the inn, happened to block her path, glancing at the group with a warning look in his eyes.

This senior brother was imposing and distinguished, with his long hair tied up and wearing a hair crown shaped like a sword, which made him look extraordinary and extremely arrogant.

Li Xian recognized the two as Wang Long and Ji Hui, whom he had encountered in "Embroidery City." Years ago, when Li Xian fled Yihe Village, he passed through Embroidery City and happened upon the Luo family's wanted poster for the Black-Faced Bat King. Through Wang Long and Ji Hui, Li Xian learned the details and secretly plotted to obtain the precious Huang Jingbao, "Huang Jiu Shen."

The region was vast. He had thought that parting would be the last, but unexpectedly, they met again amidst the icy snow and desolate wilderness. Li Xian was deeply curious and kept pondering:

"Flying Dragon City is located in Huaiyin Prefecture, while Jingchun Mountain, where the two are, is located in Qiongtian Prefecture. The two places are far apart. How come they came here? I just heard the word 'Master'. Could it be that their master has also come?"

Wang Long and Ji Hui stepped aside to the left and right, and a woman dressed in a robe entered the inn.

The beautiful woman held a whisk in her hand. Her face was fair with red lips, her nose was straight and her eyebrows were delicate. Her Taoist robe was slightly loose, but it could not completely conceal her figure. She was quite tall, almost identical to Wang Long.

She held a whisk in her hand and glanced down at the crowd.

Because the inn's door was open, the wind and snow blew into the room, swirling around her before being blown out again. This detail was extremely difficult to notice, as wind is invisible, and snowfall is even more unpredictable. Moreover, the beautiful Taoist woman was standing right at the door, and the wind and snow entered and left the room in an instant.

Li Xian had exceptional eyesight, which allowed him to perceive the situation. He muttered to himself, "This beautiful Taoist woman is extremely powerful; her martial arts are integrated into every movement. I am currently hiding in the Flower Cage Cave, making me a member of the Flower Thieves. If a conflict breaks out, my self-preservation is paramount." He became secretly on guard.

Wei Ze laughed and said, "Oh, in this snowy weather, did God find it boring for us to just drink and eat meat, so He sent us two stunning beauties?"

Ji Hui frowned and scolded, "What business is it of yours if we're checking into an inn? Why are you being so nosy?" She looked around and saw the table full of food and wine, and felt really hungry. The hall was quite spacious, with many empty tables still available.

She pointed to an empty table and said, "Let's sit there." She was asking her master, "Taoist Jingchun."

However, Wei Ze, a disciple of the Flower Cage Sect, had long been immersed in its vices and had developed a fondness for teasing women. Moreover, the place was filled with Tang Dynasty style and many fellow disciples. Emboldened by this, he laughed and said, "Don't be so formal, don't be so formal. What a beauty! Those tables and chairs are so cold. Why don't you sit in your brother's lap?"

Upon hearing this, the disciples of the Flower Cage Sect burst into laughter. Various teasing remarks followed: "Yes, young master's wine is already warmed up. But... it was warmed up with my mouth. Little heroine, come here quickly, I'll feed you."

"As the saying goes, a spring night is priceless, but tonight is the winter night, which is three levels higher than a spring night and is worth more than ten thousand taels of silver. Since we met on the winter night, we can be considered husband and wife. Let me call you my husband first."

The Flower Cage Sect possesses the "Thirty-Six Techniques to Provoke Women." These are unorthodox methods, recording techniques for verbally inciting women. When capturing a woman, one should first use words to disrupt her emotions and unsettle her, thus increasing the chances of success.

This tactic was always effective, but young women, lacking experience, were bound to be enraged by such words. Nangong Liuli and Bian Qiaoqiao had both learned this the hard way. Ji Hui's face turned pale and then red, trembling with rage. Suddenly, she drew her sword and slashed.

The disciple with the printed seal, Wei Ze, was the first to be targeted, the sword's edge pointing directly at him with a chilling sharpness. He was over forty years old, but in terms of martial arts prowess, he was no match for Ji Hui in a one-on-one fight. He smiled mischievously and dodged to the side.

The sword struck the table and chair. Ji Hui flicked her wrist, and with a "crack," the table shattered into pieces. Seeing that her first strike had missed, Ji Hui turned and unleashed a second sword strike, her movements graceful. But due to her anger, it contained a hint of ferocity and ruthlessness, making it even more cunning.

Instead, its power was less than usual. Wei Ze's expression changed, and he was about to dodge. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his chest. The sword had injured him even before it hit him. Wei Ze was sent flying backward in shock, crashing onto another table. Goosebumps appeared all over his body, and his face turned pale and then red.

It turns out… Ji Hui's second sword strike, seemingly cunning and designed to strike without causing any real pain, actually concealed a hidden technique. While appearing to be a direct sword strike, she was actually using the blade to create a "melodious celestial melody." This melodious melody originated from the spine, the bones colliding, and finally the sound traveled to the sword. This sword, three feet six inches long, was named "Blood Crystal." It contained three thousand six hundred and twenty-one tiny holes.

The ethereal melody traveled to the sword, causing it to tremble. The invisible sound emanated from the sword's holes, resonating with the enemy's chest, causing wounds from the inside out.

This move is a blend of feint and reality, a highly sophisticated technique employed by Niao Niao Xian Yin. Only Li Xian and Tang Feng present could discern its true meaning.

Ji Hui raised an eyebrow, extremely pleased with herself. Gaining the upper hand, she pressed her advantage, launching her longsword at several wooden tables. Wei Ze raised his palms to defend, striking the tables and chairs with both hands, shattering them instantly. He rolled to his feet and engaged Ji Hui in combat.

After a few more moves, Wei Ze realized he was no match for her and was in grave danger. Ji Hui said, "You think you can take advantage of me? Humph, take this sword strike from me!" She said "single sword strike," but instead unleashed four strikes in quick succession.

Enraged, she drew her sword decisively, concealing her killing intent. Seeing that he was outmatched, Wei Ze suddenly had seven people leap out and join the battle, shouting, "Brother Ze, we're here to help you!"

Observing their movements, Ji Hui knew their martial arts skills were mediocre, and sneered, "What's the use of bringing more of these chickens and dogs!"

He swept his sword horizontally, using extremely powerful internal energy. The seven people scattered in seven different directions, forming a subtle encirclement. Ji Hui was completely unaware that she had already fallen into the "Lingering Revolving Formation."

This lingering, revolving formation was composed of "seven people." Ji Hui, brandishing her sword and showing off, was about to fight again when she suddenly felt her clothes being tugged from behind, and she was back beside Daoist Jingchun.

The beautiful Taoist priestess, Jingchun, said, "Hui'er, don't be rude. Although they were disrespectful, there are all sorts of people in the martial world. How can you expect everyone to do what you want? You were ruthless just now. Is this how I've always taught you?"

Ji Hui quickly sheathed her sword and said, "Master, I was wrong. This disciple only..."

Master Jingchun said, "Go apologize to him." Wang Long said, "Master, this..."

Ji Hui's eyes were red, but she still obeyed her master's order and went over to bow and apologize. Daoist Jingchun said to Tang Feng, "We are only asking for lodging for the night and will leave tomorrow. We apologize for any offense we may have caused."

Tang Feng smiled and said, "It's alright. Shopkeeper, I'll treat these three to food and drinks."

Master Jingchun shook his head and said, "No need." He led Wang Long and Ji Hui to sit in an empty seat, ordered a vegetarian soup and congee, and they ate and drank as they pleased before going to their room to rest.

Back in her bedroom, Ji Hui saw that Daoist Jingchun's expression was calm. She knew that her master was always extremely virtuous and rarely showed joy or anger on her face, so she apologized first.

Master Jingchun shook his head and said, "Hui'er, you did nothing wrong." Wang Long said, "Ah, Master, then why did you..."

Jingchun Daoist said, "I did that just now to make them lower their guard. If I'm not mistaken, this group of people... should be disciples of the Flower Cage Sect."

Ji Hui and Wang Long exchanged glances, their hearts filled with apprehension, and asked in unison, "Master, what should we do?"

The Taoist Jingchun, with a flawless complexion, opened his lips and said, "These scoundrels are a scourge to the world. We must find a way to kill them."

"Leave no one alive!"

(End of this chapter)