Chapter 333 The Master's prestige is damaged, Chunxia saves face, the Sword Sect besieges, and the Madam is in danger!

Since their parting, Wang Long had shaken off his pursuers. Lacking knowledge of feng shui and other miscellaneous arts, and with no experience in tomb raiding, he wandered aimlessly, hoping to reunite with Li Xian, Lin Aoshan, and Han Qingxiao.

Despite his arduous search, he could not find any trace of him. Instead, he encountered the members of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and He Wentian by chance. Wang Long thought to himself, "Although I recognize the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, they do not recognize me. If I were to meet them and expose He Wentian's evil deeds, it would be difficult to explain myself. Moreover, He Wentian is eloquent, and with my words, I am afraid I cannot out-argue him."

He then fled elsewhere, intending to wait for another opportunity. However, he inadvertently revealed his whereabouts, attracting the pursuit of disciples from the Five Mountains Sword Sect and soldiers from Flying Dragon City. Wang Long fought several times, narrowly escaping each time, but was seriously injured.

In their panic, they fled into the land of corpse soldiers. The pursuers knew this was a forbidden place; without orders, anyone who entered would be beheaded. So they stopped their pursuit, knowing that the yin energy within was too dense and that lingering there would be mortal danger.

They then blocked the road and sent men to guard it. The sword sect disciples returned the way they came and joined the elders in exploring the tomb. Unexpectedly, the military camp was suddenly attacked by the enemy, and those who blocked the road had no choice but to return to provide support, where they were all annihilated in one fell swoop.

Wang Long sneaked into the corpse storage site and immediately felt a chill spreading through his body. He tried to use his immortal music, sword techniques, and Qi circulation, but all were ineffective. However, being a man, his Yang energy was relatively strong, and he had practiced the "Spring Observation Manual" health cultivation technique, so he was full of vitality and could endure it for many days.

Knowing he was hopeless—whether he went out or waited, he would die—he didn't know what to do. He could only wait one day at a time, hoping for a turn of events, but his health was deteriorating day by day, and he gradually felt hopeless. In his boredom, he explored the area around the corpse storage site. He guessed that the corpse soldiers had a deep relationship with He Wentian. Seeing the corpses standing there, fierce and terrifying, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger and began to hack at the corpses with his sword.

The corpses were as hard as iron; swords could pierce them, but the undead soldiers felt no pain or fear. Wang Long stabbed several times, then grew bored and lay down to rest. His mind was in turmoil, and his injuries were severe… so he fell into a deep sleep, not knowing how much time had passed, before he heard another burst of noise.

He quietly picked up his sword, thinking, "Could it be the pursuers are here?! Good, rather than be trapped here and slowly die, I'd rather fight to the death and take a few villains with me!" There were tens of thousands of corpse soldiers here, and the air was thick with gloomy mist. Wang Long lay motionless, listening intently to the sounds. Others could hardly detect him.

Hearing that the visitors were "a man and a woman," and that they were talking very intimately, joking and teasing each other, he cursed inwardly: "They seem to be a pair of adulterers. The man speaks flirtatiously, while the woman pretends to be virtuous. They are clearly lustful and shameless, which makes people feel disgusted. Just wait and see if I don't make them suffer later!"

Upon closer listening, he realized the voice sounded strangely familiar. The woman's voice was clear and melodious, like a nightingale singing in the willows, and it sounded remarkably like his master's voice. Wang Long couldn't help but wonder, "Could it be my master? No... how could that be? My master is either dead or captured. How could he be here? Besides, when my master speaks to us, he is always quiet and reserved, rarely smiling. Although this woman's voice sounds similar, it is definitely not my master."

Wang Long found the conversation increasingly strange. When he heard the two condemning He Wentian, and their words seemed to indicate that they knew about his crimes, his murderous intent vanished. He wanted to meet them immediately and work together, but he was also curious about their conversation, so he remained hidden.

Suddenly, something unusual happened, and a furious shout was heard. Then, rows of corpses fell down. In that instant, Wang Long finally confirmed that the female voice belonged to his master. This was the "Planting Grass and Trees" move from the "Closed Mountain Sword Technique," which only his master had mastered to perfection.

Wang Long rolled aside, begging for mercy. When he could see clearly, he saw his master and a man not only exchanging intimate words, but also embracing naturally, their bodies pressed tightly together. His master had always taught that men and women should not touch each other, and that they should not engage in promiscuous behavior. Yet here he was… Before Wang Long could even see the man's face clearly, the man called out, "Brother Wang Long, what are you doing here?"

Zhao Chunxia said, "Xiaolong? It's you!" She was used to the side hug and didn't notice anything unusual.

Wang Long said, "Master, Brother Li Xian, you...you guys?" His expression was strange and puzzled. Zhao Chunxia blushed, thinking, "Ah...if Xiaolong were nearby, wouldn't he have overheard our conversation? I always maintain a serious and strict teacher's demeanor in front of my disciples. If this happens, wouldn't...wouldn't they overthink it? I should scold him first to save face." She was very embarrassed.

With a forced smile, he said seriously, "Little Dragon, since you've been here all along, you must recognize my voice. Why did you hide? I should have taught you that a gentleman does not deceive in the dark. Eavesdropping on others' conversations is not the behavior of a gentleman."

Wang Long explained, "Master... I originally guessed that you were pursuers chasing me, which is why I hid." Zhao Chunxia said, "I see. Fortunately, you haven't forgotten my teachings. My friend Li Xian and I are exploring this strange place together. He has a pure yang body, which can help me avoid the invasion of yin energy. Come here."

Wang Long thought to himself, "So that's how it is!" Walking to Li Xianzhou's side, he indeed felt warmer, and the strange sensation subsided. He greatly admired Zhao Chunxia and didn't think much of it at the time. However, he wasn't stupid; after reflecting on the matter later, he naturally realized the hidden meaning in Zhao Chunxia's words.

Li Xian withdrew his hand from around her waist. Zhao Chunxia also quietly took a half step, feeling a mix of reluctance and excitement. Her heart was restless and pounding, but with her disciple before her, she could only maintain a composed and dignified demeanor. Zhao Chunxia said happily, "Little Dragon, tell me how you resolved the dangerous situation."

Wang Long's ordeal was recounted in detail. He explained how He Wentian persecuted him, how he was rescued, how he entered the Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Cave, how he was pursued, and how he hid here…

Zhao Chunxia said in a deep voice, "He Wentian is a wolf in sheep's clothing, truly despicable. I misjudged this matter, causing you all to suffer like this. Alas..."

Wang Long remained silent. Li Xian, however, said, "Senior Chunxia, ​​there's no need to blame yourself. The female disciples and elders of the Sword Sect were also captured. It's just that they were plotting something intentionally but not intentionally. Even if you avoided that misjudgment, you couldn't escape the second danger. If you really think about it, this calamity was destined to happen, but fortunately, you've already overcome it. From now on, you'll naturally have good fortune and peace."

Zhao Chunxia laughed and said, "So you mean it's my destiny to save you once?" At this point, noticing the strange look in Wang Long's eyes, she said seriously, "What you say makes sense, young friend Li Xian. Since it has already happened, learn from the experience and remember it. There's no need to dwell on it for too long and cause unnecessary worry. Little Long, remember this."

Wang Long nodded and said, "Master is absolutely right. Since Master is unharmed, then Junior Sister Ji Hui..." Zhao Chunxia said, "Of course she is unharmed. Immortal Li, the area has been thoroughly investigated. What do you intend to do? Burn it down in one fell swoop, or something else?"

Li Xian said, "The yin energy here is dense and the five elements are deficient. It may be difficult to extricate ourselves quickly. Instead, the billowing smoke and towering flames will attract the Flying Dragon City troops. The most urgent thing is to return to the barracks, rest well, and then find a way out."

Zhao Chunxia nodded and said, "That makes sense!"

The three of them returned to the barracks by the same route. Wang Long met Ji Hui and then saw Lin Aoshan again. The presence of a man among the women caused quite a stir. They all came to offer their condolences and brought her warm soup.

Zhao Chunxia led Wang Long to meet all the elders, and said with a smile, "Little Long, by doing this, you can be considered to have returned to your ancestral home!" The Five Mountains Sword Sects joined forces to form an alliance, named the "Five Mountains Sword Alliance." At this crucial time, they were short of manpower, so Zhao Chunxia took the opportunity to return to the alliance and assume an important position as an elder. Her disciples returned to their sect and joined the Five Mountains Sword Alliance.

News of the corpse soldiers spread throughout the military camp, and the women gritted their teeth, wishing they could chop them to pieces. However, the place where the corpses were kept had been cold and gloomy for thousands of years, making it difficult to set foot there. They could only keep their hatred to themselves, waiting for the day they could take revenge.

Wang Long learned the whole story from the women and discovered that it was Li Xian who had saved him. He was extremely grateful and respectful to her, but the scenes at the corpse storage site were still hard for him to process.

They rested for another hour. The women changed their clothes, dried their shoes and socks, washed their hair, relieved themselves, and regulated their breathing... all in an orderly and thorough manner, leaving them looking brand new. Some of the women still had sachets and rouge on them, which they took turns using. They almost came to blows, but several elders intervened to stop them.

With all the miscellaneous matters settled, Li Xian drew a map himself, sketching all the places he had passed through on paper with simple strokes, the terrain not detailed. Looking at the map, he thought, "Since there is a military camp here, there must be a way out. If conditions permit, we can follow the road and leave without going deeper into the tomb. It is hard to know what dangers lurk deep within the tomb."

So they summoned the elders to discuss the decision of their journey. Peng Sanluo, He Lijun, and Tang Mengluo all nodded in agreement. Wang Long, however, said, "Brother Li Xian, this plan may be flawed." He was quite apprehensive, knowing that Li Xian was unparalleled in prestige.

Li Xian smiled and said, "Brother Wang, please speak." Wang Long said, "I was previously chased by the enemy and fled around aimlessly. I know that if I were to leave from here, I would have to pass through a 'Road of Ten Thousand Arrows.' That place is full of Flying Dragon City's garrison and is extremely dangerous."

"Although there are many of us, it is hard to predict how many will survive once we reach that place. If we go deeper, I have encountered the elders and disciples of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance... and they have already gone deeper. If we join them first, capture He Wentian on the spot, and then use him as a hostage, it might be better. Even if He Wentian escapes, at that time, our Five Mountains Sword Sect will be united in yin and yang, and no obstacle can we not overcome."

The women all agreed and looked at Li Xian. Li Xian nodded slightly and smiled, "Then let's do as Brother Wang says and go deeper into the mountains." He thought to himself, "Some people in the Five Mountains Sword Alliance recognize my face. If we meet up, I need to be fully prepared. These sword sects that use swords are bound to have some who are pedantic and arrogant, with sharp edges... They will kill each other at the slightest disagreement and falsely claim to be righteous."

Wang Long vaguely discerned the road and led the way. After walking for half an hour, he began to feel bored and wanted to find his fellow disciple to chat with. But he saw Ji Hui chattering away, pestering Li Xian.

Occasionally, the bells would resonate. Li Xian thought to himself, "The closer we get to the Black Palace, the more frequent the bell tolls become. If I'm not mistaken, the intervals between the tolls are now less than ten breaths. Once we enter the palace, the bell tolls will surely become even more rapid. Just as we've adjusted, the situation will change again."

They walked to a wide open space, where footprints were densely packed. Wang Long said, "Brother Li Xian, I was here before and saw the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and He Wentian... I know that the two sides are very close, and the elders of the sword sects have great faith in him."

Peng Sanlu cursed, "That scoundrel He Wentian has many tricks up his sleeve and is good at manipulating people's hearts. Our Sword Sect elders and disciples are all strong-willed, but their minds and schemes are indeed a bit weak. Naturally, we were fooled."

He Lijun said, "This matter is shameful to talk about. Only by capturing that villain alive can we quell the hatred in our hearts."

Although located underground, the view here is extremely expansive. Looking up, the scattered lights create the illusion of being in the Milky Way, with endless starlight seemingly within reach. The light spots originate from a type of "star sand mineral" at the top.

After another half-day's journey, crossing perilous passes and treacherous rivers, we arrived at a vast and magnificent white jade plaza. Before us stood the Black Palace, towering majestically, exuding grandeur, like a palace hidden underground.

Li Xian sighed, "Truly a remarkable feat of humankind." Zhao Chunxia said, "The owner of this tomb built an underground palace before his death, and there are corpse soldiers left outside the palace. It seems that he was a person who valued power highly and was attached to his status in life, so he wanted to take everything with him to the underworld. It's a pity that my knowledge of history is not good enough, otherwise I would definitely be able to find out the owner of the tomb from the clues."

There are 108 steps in front of the hall, and beside the steps is a jade canal with flowing water that has been flowing for thousands of years. As the group walked up the steps, the hall door was pushed open. A huge rock rolled away, broken arrows were scattered everywhere, and there were more than a dozen corpses on the ground.

Soldiers from Flying Dragon City, members of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance… all were present. A woman cried out in shock, overwhelmed with grief upon seeing the tragic deaths of her former fellow disciples. She then stomped on the corpses of the Flying Dragon City soldiers several times.

It turns out that... some time ago, the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and Flying Dragon City arrived here and, finding the palace gates tightly closed, tried to open them. Unfortunately, they triggered a mechanism, causing giant rocks to fall from the sky and a hail of arrows to be fired. Just then, the "bell" resonated, and some people, unable to withstand the danger, were shot and killed on the spot by the mechanism.

The hall was extremely spacious, with ninety-nine stone pillars standing tall, their tops gleaming with gold. At the very front was a black dragon throne, and in the middle was an incense burner with three long sticks of incense inside.

In the middle was a long path, with ninety-nine prayer cushions on either side, resembling a scene of worship. Before the black dragon throne lay a decaying corpse, and on each prayer cushion sat a figure. Though countless millennia had passed, they were rotten and withered, yet their postures in life remained vividly clear.

Zhao Chunxia exclaimed in shock, "What a thousand years of tribute, an emperor for ten thousand generations! This person calls himself emperor, and then captures ninety-nine people to serve as his subjects, devise strategies for him, and serve him after death."

The mechanisms here are ominous, yet they were all activated by those who came before. Li Xian and his companions only need to be cautious and vigilant to ensure their safety. They examined each of the hundred corpses, the first being a first-rank official, dressed in a crimson-gold robe, untouched by dust despite thousands of years of silence. Following him were second-rank, third-rank, fourth-rank officials…

Although the corpses of the officials were decayed, their expressions, gestures, and movements were still faintly discernible, resembling a thriving and harmonious morning court session between the emperor and his officials. Each official was dutiful and respectful, with smiling faces, ready to report on auspicious events, as if the nation were at peace, the people prosperous, and the borders secure. Nearby, scribes recorded the events of the morning court session, and even those of lower rank dared to speak…

Li Xian asked, "Senior Chunxia, ​​do you know the dynasties?" Zhao Chunxia pondered and replied, "My knowledge is limited, so I really don't know. Above Dawu is Dayu, above Dayu is Nanyang, a country in chaos among various states, and above Nanyang is the Daxiao Dynasty... But as far as I know, none of them wear official robes like these."

Li Xian walked forward, gazing at the emperor's corpse. Clad in a black dragon robe, wearing dragon-patterned boots and a tasseled crown… he resembled a true dragon. His accessories were all extremely precious. Li Xian dared not approach, only observing from a distance, thinking, "These kings and generals, with their immense power, why are they so cherished? Death is the end of everything, yet they go to such lengths, creating this underground palace. Their thoughts are vastly different from mine. If it were me, I would rather embrace a beauty and live a carefree life in seclusion."

Li Xian thought to himself, "Li Xian, you're actually a pervert."

"This dragon robe is extremely valuable; if it were removed, its value would be immeasurable. But my survival is my priority, and with the dragon robe in hand, how can I be modest? I'll just take a look and broaden my horizons."

Following the clues along the hall, they found traces of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, He Wentian, and many others. Upon entering the hall, they were also deeply moved by the scene before them and stood there for a long time.

The women were amazed by the scale of the place, and felt a sense of unfamiliarity and fear. They were eager to reunite with the elders and disciples of the Sword Sect. Li Xian nodded in agreement and asked Zhao Chunxia to use her "Wind-Smelling Nose" to locate the Sword Sect members.

The bell tolls every five breaths here. The internal energy appears and disappears intermittently, which is quite strange. Zhao Chunxia walks and pauses intermittently. Behind the hall is a garden landscape with mountains, water, grass and trees, and neatly paved bluestone paths. Along the way, the traces of the Sword Sect elders, He Wentian and others are becoming more and more common.

Suddenly, they saw several wounded people lying under a tree. Some had severed hands and feet, their wounds gruesome; they were all disciples of the Five Mountains Sword Sect. The women were both shocked and overjoyed, and they all ran over. The disciples, hearing the commotion, looked over, and after a moment of astonishment, they were also overjoyed, shouting, "Elders, senior sisters, junior sisters, you're all alright!"

Mu Hongchou asked, "Of course we're alright. Oh... you're all badly injured. Was it that scoundrel He Wentian who did this? How are the elders?"

The disciple shook his head and said, "Alas! He Wentian is a kind and generous man, how could he harm us? It's all that witch's fault!"

...

...

Upon hearing the words "wicked woman," Li Xian recalled vaguely hearing curses of "lowly woman," "lowly woman," when he first fell into the Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Cave. He immediately guessed that it was "Wen Caishang" and thought, "The lady is very likely here. I should hide myself first and be careful in all matters. If things go wrong, I may be attacked from both sides." He then used the chaos to pull Lin Aoshan away.

Li Xian said in a deep voice, "Ao Shan, only you can help me now." Lin Ao Shan said, "Strange, judging from their words, the elders of the Sword Sect are nearby. You are the savior of the Five Mountains Sword Sect, so why do you seem to be facing great danger?"

Li Xian said, “You have overlooked He Wentian’s cunning. It is true that I have saved women from various sects, but He Wentian has also saved many elders from the Sword Sect. Moreover, I did temporarily enter the Flower Cage Sect, and He Wentian has the Flower Cage Sect’s certification. If we confront each other, he can use this to frame me. Although the women will help me identify them, the situation may fall into mutual suspicion.”

"Instead of going through all this trouble, I'll hide first. You should find a way to inform Zhao Chunxia and the other elders of the sword sect, instructing them to say that they were rescued on their own, not by me, Li Xian. Only by making this accusation can we avoid any trouble."

Lin Aoshan realized, "So that's how it is. If they point it out, the women will say that you saved them. Your identity is impure, and you're also a flower thief. He Wentian is eloquent and can use this to get rid of the charges. He can even deny that it was all staged by the Flower Cage Sect. We know it's fake, but the other elders of the Sword Sect might not be able to tell the difference easily. Li Xian, you are indeed very perceptive!"

Li Xian thought to himself, "If I were to identify He Wentian on the spot, I wouldn't be afraid of him. However, the situation here is complicated. I need an excuse to hide myself and observe the situation. They keep talking about prestigious sects and righteous factions... It's better for a lowly thief like me to stay out of the way."

He then said, “That’s right, that makes perfect sense. Just say that I’m retiring after achieving my goal and don’t want to reveal my name. I think they’ll cooperate.”

Lin Aoshan said, "Okay! I'll help you right away." She immediately returned to the group of women and whispered something in Zhao Chunxia's ear. Zhao Chunxia heard that Li Xian had left and wanted to cover up her name. She felt very disappointed and looked back, suddenly feeling a bit depressed.

However, the excellent opportunity for the sword sects to unite had to be temporarily suppressed. The matter had to be put aside for the time being.

Peng Sanluo asked, "Witch? Who is the witch?"

The disciple said, "It's really... really unexpected. Do you senior sisters, junior sisters, and elders still remember that in Flying Dragon City, there was a very famous Lady of the Venerable King? She organized temple fairs, burning gold and incense, and was extremely generous."

Mu Hongchou said, "Could the vixen you're referring to be that Lady Wang?"

The disciple said, "That's right! This person's surname is not Wang. Her real name is Wen Caishang, and her nickname is Lady Broken Sword! She is an extremely fierce and dangerous person. She is very good at disguising herself. She is a woman of her word, kind-hearted and melancholic... all her good looks are intentional disguises. She has another purpose in infiltrating Flying Dragon City."

The women exclaimed, "Truly, appearances can be deceiving! We've suffered so much because of this!" "Madam Wang is indeed Madam Wen, and that Lord He is extremely cunning. This world is truly... truly..." "We've finally seen the true nature of people today!"

Tang Mengluo said, "Lady Broken Sword? I've vaguely heard of that name before. This woman is extremely beautiful, and also extremely dangerous. The name 'Broken Sword' means that her beauty can make heroes bend their backs and break their swords, and her strength can also break a hero's precious sword. She is a mysterious and extremely powerful woman. But she has disappeared for a long time, so why has she suddenly reappeared?"

The disciple said, "We don't know either, but she must be plotting a vicious scheme. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for her to be hiding in Flying Dragon City and squandering so much wealth. Moreover, this woman is extremely familiar with the tombs; the collapse of the Worry-Relieving Pavilion... was her doing! City Lord He feels he is no match for this woman, so he specifically asked our Sword Sect for help to capture her and stop her evil deeds!"

The women, far from being angered, clapped and cheered. The disciple found this strange; whenever the women mentioned the name 'He Wentian,' they would all shout and curse, but with the noise, no one could clearly explain what had happened. The women were more concerned about their senior brothers, junior brothers, and elders, and kept pressing him for answers. The disciple, completely bewildered, continued, "What's even more hateful is that this vixen is ruthless. Our Five Mountains Sword Sect... to this day... to this day, more than seventy disciples have died because of her."

After saying this, he burst into tears and pounded the ground in grief.

The women gasped in shock and hurriedly asked the names of their close fellow disciples to verify their survival. Upon learning that some of their fellow disciples had passed away, they couldn't help but weep with sorrow.

He Lijun said, "What a vixen! This vixen is no less than He Wentian! Our Five Mountains Sword Alliance has actually suffered such heavy losses because of her. Tell me in detail how this vixen plotted against us?"

The disciple was about to encounter them along the way, and he explained everything clearly. Since the "Thunderclouds in the Palace," the Five Mountains Sword Alliance felt both guilty and trusting towards He Wentian. He Wentian deceived them, getting them to join him in dealing with Wen Caishang.

The group ventured deeper into the area, encountering numerous traps and obstacles along the way. Each time they caught a glimpse of Wen Caishang, they were plunged into a major crisis or trap. They were thoroughly tormented and felt extremely frustrated.

The most dangerous incident occurred when the Five Mountains Sword Alliance and He Wentian were imprisoned in a stone chamber due to Wen Caishang's scheme, without even being able to touch the hem of her clothes. Subsequently, the stone chamber flooded, and more than a dozen sword sect disciples and Flying Dragon City soldiers... all drowned on the spot.

Deeply resentful, he naturally gave it his all. Fortunately, when he reached the Black Palace, the sound of the bell seemed to have a magical effect. The gap between them actually narrowed, and they were able to meet face to face several times, gradually forcing the lady to resort to violence.

The disciple said, "Fellow elders, sisters, and junior sisters, since you are all unharmed, please hurry onward. Quickly assist our Five Mountains Sword Alliance; this vixen is truly not simple!"

"Our Sword Sect elders have surrounded that vixen. We will surely kill her today."

The women responded enthusiastically and followed the directions. Li Xian mingled in the crowd, his mind racing, and followed along. The scenery flashed by, and although the garden was located underground, it was as vibrant as spring and extremely beautiful.

Suddenly, a red pavilion appeared in the middle of the lake. The Five Mountains Sword Alliance surrounded the lake. A woman in a white dress sat gracefully in the pavilion. A lake breeze blew, causing her long hair to flow, its fragrance wafting to everyone's noses. She was elegant and serene, dignified and gentle. Before her lay a stone zither, carved when the pavilion was built. She gently stroked the stone, producing melodious tunes, exuding a sense of tranquility.

Outside the lake, the crowd shouted and cursed, creating a scene resembling two completely different worlds.

Upon seeing the lady again, Li Xian sighed, "The agreed-upon date for the eye-stripping ceremony was not shown by the lady. Now that we have met here, she is surrounded by various factions."

(End of this chapter)