Chapter 341 Five Swordsmen Arrive at the Door, Madam Beats the Dog, Xiao Wanjian Becomes Obedient, Sheng Yue Fights
Wen Caishang and Li Xianshan arrived late to the main hall on the first floor of Bixiang Pavilion. There were five important guests in the hall, namely the five leaders and elders of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance: Xiao Wanjian, Duan Yixin, Hou Yuande, Hu Yueyue, and Wang Zongheng.
The five men stood calmly, each flanked by two senior disciples of their sect, dressed in purple robes, carrying long swords on their backs, and wearing silver crowns. Hearing the commotion, Xiao Wanjian glanced at Wen Caishang and Li Xian. Seeing Wen Caishang's even more alluring appearance, her face flushed, eyebrows raised, lips red, and eyes glazed, he muttered a curse under his breath: "Adulterous couple." He picked up his teacup, skimmed off the foam, and drank to mask his embarrassment.
Wen Caishang walked gracefully in, her attire exquisite and appropriate, dignified and gentle. The disciples lingered, their eyes fixed on her, momentarily stunned. The elders coughed softly, subtly reminding her to maintain her composure. Wen Caishang took the main seat, a fragrant breeze wafting through the air. She cupped her hands to the five people and said, "I apologize for the five of you graciously gracing us with your presence. I apologize for not being able to greet you immediately."
Xiao Wanjian said calmly, "We waited for quite a while, but Madam Wen never showed herself. We thought she had already vanished without a trace. To be fortunate enough to see her again is truly an extraordinary stroke of luck." As he spoke, his inner energy subtly surged, his voice full of vigor, his words like swords capable of slicing flesh. Fine cracks appeared on the blue bricks beneath his feet, and the stone pillar behind him seemed to have been chiseled, each word leaving a tiny cut.
He had suffered greatly in the tomb, unable to reveal even a fraction of his strength. Now, free from restraint, with his inner energy abundant and powerful, his martial arts fully unleashed, and his cultivation extremely stable, he intended to casually display his power. His words were laced with hidden malice, instantly intimidating him.
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "You are all my guests, and I have long admired your name. I would be more than happy to invite you to drink, have tea, admire flowers, or chat about trivial matters. How could I possibly refuse to see you?"
The disciples were momentarily startled, but quickly regained their composure.
Xiao Wanjian said, "That's good, that's good. Madam Wen, our Yangshan Sword Sect is grateful for your care and has specially sent you something." He gently raised his hand, and the disciple waiting behind him stepped forward, holding a long box horizontally in his hand.
Xiao Wanjian said, "Our Yangshan Sword Sect is located in a remote and sparsely populated area, and our style is rough. We are not as polite as you. Young man, please take this long box to your wife for inspection!"
Hu Yueyue frowned slightly, sensing something amiss, and thought, "It might be good to test the waters a bit." She then released her grip, pretending not to notice. Li Xian brushed his sleeve across his face, his double pupils piercing through, and saw a precious sword in the box, the "Yunyang Sword." It was an accessory, not a weapon, exquisitely crafted with a golden tassel. But within it lay the evolution of martial arts.
Xiao Wanjian's gift of the sword was a pretense, a test. He was hot-tempered and petty. Having been humiliated by Li Xian's sword strike and spear thrust in the tomb, he wanted to test Wen Caishang and, more importantly, make things difficult for Li Xian.
Before delivering the sword, he had already used the "Yunyang Sword" to perform the sect's sword techniques. He sealed it into the box after only half of the move was completed. The sword still retained traces of martial arts evolution and lingering immortal music. If one could not neutralize this move, one would be inexplicably injured by the shock or cut by the fragments... Therefore, he specifically asked Li Xian to deliver it.
Wen Caishang raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Since the style is so rough, that's even better. Caishang will follow Elder Xiao's advice and cut out the formalities. There's no need for further explanation." With a flick of her sleeve, a suction force was released, and the long box flew over, landing steadily in front of her. She kicked the box with her toe. The lid immediately opened, and a precious sword flew out of the box.
Wen Caishang easily held the sword in her hand, examining it closely. The sword was two fingers wide and three feet long, its hilt carved from jade. Xiao Wanjian frowned. He wielded the sword and unleashed the "Jade and Stone Burn Together" move from the "Swift Wind and Thunder Sword" technique. This move was intended for use in life-or-death battles, shattering the longsword into countless fragments that rained down on the enemy. He anticipated that the sword would explode the moment Li Xian passed the wooden box, scattering the fragments in all directions.
At that time, it will not only be a way to settle scores but also a demonstration of strength.
Unexpectedly, Wen Caishang easily deflected the sword's attack. She examined the sword and sneered, "Since Elder Xiao is a rough man, then Caishang will speak frankly, lest Elder Xiao not understand. This sword... is barely acceptable. As a precious ceremonial weapon, the jade hilt and gold tassel are rather vulgar, lacking in the ability to appreciate its beauty. As a weapon of mass destruction, the blade is too narrow, and the sharpness is too great. It has the intention to injure, but no ability to do so, which is rather frustrating and ineffective. However, since it is Elder Xiao's kind intention, Caishang will naturally add it to her collection out of respect for Elder Xiao."
She handed the longsword to Li Xian and said, "Little Xian, if you like it, you can take it and play with it." Li Xian held the sword and examined it, then casually swung it a couple of times, creating a few graceful sword flowers. He sighed in disappointment, "I'd better keep it in storage. I don't know if the Yangshan Sword Sect is just poor and incompetent, or if they have no sincerity at all, how could they send such a mediocre sword to fool us?"
Wen Caishang seized the opportunity to reprimand him, saying, "Little fairy, you mustn't be rude. Although Elder Xiao is a rough man and doesn't know any manners, you are not. It's rather inappropriate for you to speak like that."
Li Xian repeatedly replied, "Yes, I have learned a lot."
Xiao Wanjian's face alternated between pale and flushed as he sensed the veiled barbs in their words. The two treacherous people, the woman and the man, were openly and covertly sarcastic, causing him to lose face completely. He slammed his hand on the table and cursed, "You scoundrels and wicked women, how dare you be so arrogant, showing such contempt for the gift from my Yangshan Sword Sect! Since that's the case, I won't give you this sword anymore, give it back to me!" He raised his hand to snatch the longsword back.
Xiao Wanjian appeared to be seizing the sword, but in reality, he was concealing an offensive move. The sword was currently held by Li Xian, and Xiao Wanjian immediately approached Li Xian, raising his hand to grab the hilt. This was a feint, his true intention being to strike vital points such as the throat and heart. His internal energy was abundant, his cultivation level high, and his martial arts evolution profound; every move was extraordinary. Although there was no strong killing intent, he was determined to embarrass and injure Li Xian. Li Xian's internal energy and strength were sealed, making it difficult for him to resist. He remained calm.
When Xiao Wanjian was two steps away from Li Xian, seeing that his wicked scheme had succeeded, he thought, "You wicked woman, there are no hidden mechanisms here. Even if you, this adulterer, are incredibly strong, I have countless ways to deal with you. Today I'll show you my power!"
His attack was swift and sharp, already revealing its edge, and he was certain that Li Xian would be unable to withstand it. But suddenly, he felt a dizzying sensation, his hair stood on end, and his scalp tingled. A powerful sense of crisis erupted in an instant. Xiao Wanjian's soul trembled, and he hurriedly gathered his Qi to protect himself, using the martial art "Yangshan Body Protection Qi" to shield his chest with both arms.
It was Wen Caishang who struck with her palm. The movement was slow and the angle was not tricky. Her palm was fair and delicate, like a gentle caress or pat. It landed lightly on Xiao Wanjian's arms. There was a loud "thud," like rotten wood hitting a night bell, or a gorge encountering a torrent of rocks. The two moves collided, and the shockwaves swept across the area in an instant.
Hu Yueyue, Duan Yixin, Wang Zongheng, and Hou Yuande quickly used their powers to stabilize themselves. The disciples staggered back several steps, struggling to regain their footing. In the main hall, bookshelves overturned, porcelain shattered, and jade tables, candlesticks, red chairs, and screens collapsed and rolled over. The windows on all four sides opened and closed with a series of loud crashes.
In this exchange, the evolution of martial arts reached its limit, its power unfathomable. Wen Caishang, with her fair hands, sat dignified and elegant in her chair, while Xiao Wanjian, sweating profusely, gritted his teeth and resisted. "Yangshan Protective Qi" was his extremely powerful protective martial art; Yangshan stood tall in the storm, unmoved. This martial art was derived from it.
When unleashed, his body is as imposing as a mountain, with raging winds, torrential rain, and roaring thunder, yet he remains calm and composed. No matter how many attacks an enemy makes, they cannot harm him in the slightest. The golden light protecting his body is extremely refined, making his back feel as if it were supported by a mountain.
But he gradually felt the golden light protecting his body being gradually dissipated. He was as sturdy as a mountain, lifelike, but Wen Caishang's light palm strike was digging up the roots of the mountain, cutting down the grass and trees, driving away the beasts, cutting off the water flow, and destroying his foundation.
Suddenly, he heard several cracking sounds as the bluestone bricks beneath his feet began to crack. Xiao Wanjian let out a hissing sound, his pupils filled with unspeakable astonishment. He had encountered the underground chamber several times, with Wen Caishang cleverly using traps to harm him. Xiao Wanjian had guessed that while Wen Caishang's strength was not weak, it might not be stronger than his. Now that he was out of the tomb, and the bell's influence was gone, why should he worry about this woman?
Therefore, he acted without restraint, immediately displaying his cunning and probing nature upon first meeting Li Xian. Seeing Li Xian's disrespectful words, he even dared to approach and attack him. Only after exchanging blows did he realize his guesses were entirely wrong, that he was incredibly foolish, arrogant, and ignorant of the world. This woman's strength was unfathomable, and he now felt remorse, wanting to seek help from the elders who accompanied him. But all his strength was trapped in his chest, struggling to hold on. A thousand words were hard to utter; speaking would only deplete his energy, threatening his life.
Wen Caishang suddenly turned her hand, her fingers moving as if casually plucking a flower. With a gentle flick, a crisp "ding" sound rang out. Xiao Wanjian vanished instantly, and everyone searched intently. Then, a loud "boom" was heard, revealing that Xiao Wanjian had been flung away, smashing through a courtyard wall.
The elders were dumbfounded and immediately looked in the direction he had come from. They saw that after smashing through one courtyard wall, Xiao Wanjian was still not done and continued to smash through three more walls before being launched into the street, knocking down a large number of pedestrians. He rolled on the ground to dissipate his energy, covered in dirt and dust, looking extremely disheveled.
He managed to stand up, but his steps were still retreating rapidly. Suddenly, he felt that he had nowhere left to retreat, and his back was already against a red wall. The impact made his whole body shudder, and his bones made a "crackling" sound. Finally, the momentum of his retreat subsided, and his legs became sore, numb, and weak.
He knelt on the ground, panting, but then he was filled with even greater horror. The vermilion wall behind him was covered with cracks, which formed a lotus flower pattern. He exclaimed, "It's the Flower-Picking Finger technique!" He saw flowers and vines sprouting from the cracks... and in an instant, it transformed into a wall of flowers.
The evolution of martial arts is endless. Even killing intent can be full of vitality! He looked towards the Jade Fragrance Pavilion, which was now a mile away. He felt an overwhelming sense of horror: "I...I thought her strength was ordinary, but I never expected...that she would be so terrifying. This woman is truly...truly powerful!" Looking at his arms, he saw that the bones were broken. But he had mastered martial arts and could quickly heal his injuries.
Li Xian glanced at her, thinking to himself, "Madam seems to have become much stronger. This move should be the 'Flower-Picking Finger,' I've seen her use it before. Seeing it again this time is truly enviable. If I could learn this move, wouldn't I have gained another powerful ally? Oh well, don't bite off more than you can chew. I haven't even started practicing 'Golden Light Flicking Finger' or 'Unique Mind Skill' yet, so to covet 'Flower-Picking Finger' would be too greedy." He saw that Wen Caishang's expression was normal, and she lightly patted her dress, not taking it seriously at all.
Wen Caishang said, "I wonder if the other four of you are also here to give gifts? If so, it would be best to observe some etiquette." Hu Yueyue, Duan Yixin, Hou Yuande, and Wang Zongheng looked at each other, then sat back down in their chairs, remaining silent.
Xiao Wanjian ran back to Bixiang Pavilion, seriously injured. He cupped his hands and said, "Madam Wen, I was rash and hasty just now. Please forgive me."
Wen Caishang said calmly, "Being a little reckless and impatient is fine. But if you want to hurt my young master, don't blame me for being a little heavy-handed." She grabbed Li Xian's hand and gently patted the back of his hand.
Xiao Wanjian nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, it was my mistake. Brother Li, please forgive me." He brushed the dust off his clothes and sat back down. Wen Caishang said, "If you have something important to say, please speak frankly."
The five elders exchanged glances, their eyes meeting, without hesitation.
This story begins a few days ago, when the Five Mountains Sword Sects held discussions, seeking cooperation with Li Xian and Wen Caishang to fight against their enemy. However, they were unfamiliar with the tomb and searched for a whole day without finding any trace of them.
Unsure whether Li Xian and Wen Caishang had already departed, the Five Mountains Sword Alliance decided against wasting their energy searching for them, fearing it would only worsen their situation. They pondered how to escape, but finding no good plan, they decided to attempt a forceful breakout.
As soon as they stepped out of the main hall, they saw He Wentian's heavily guarded troops, determined not to let them escape alive. Since they had neither cultivation nor internal energy... how could they possibly withstand the barrage of arrows?
After resisting several times, they were forced back into the main hall. He Wentian continued, "Brothers of the Sword Alliance, I, He Wentian, have never treated you badly, yet you covet the treasures of my Flying Dragon City. The Five Mountains Sword Alliance is said to be an alliance of gentlemen, but now it seems that it is nothing more than a reputation-seeking scheme."
He turned the tables, infuriating the Sword Alliance members. He then said:
"I will now spare your lives, allowing you to exchange one life for another. Disciples will take the heads of other disciples, and elders will take the heads of other elders. You have only recently formed an alliance and have little to do with each other. At this time, everyone is looking out for themselves, so it is understandable that you seek a way to survive."
"If you are worried about having nowhere to go in the future, you can seek refuge in Flying Dragon City. I, He Wentian, particularly appreciate such pragmatic people. Although my Flying Dragon City is a remote city-state, it has mountains, rivers, and magnificent scenery, and will certainly not wrong the talents and heroes from all directions."
He was extremely adept at manipulating people's hearts, and with just a few words, he actually threw the Five Mountains Sword Alliance into chaos. Disagreements nearly arose between the various sword sects. Fortunately, the five elders were there to maintain order and suppress the crowd's emotions, barely managing to stabilize the situation.
Hu Yueyue, Xiao Wanjian, Duan Yixin and the others felt troubled, thinking: "He Wentian has a good plan. His words have cut off our escape route. If we stay in the rear for a long time, he will not dare to send troops rashly, and will have to put up a great deal of pressure to stalemate with us. It will take time, effort and money, and his grand plan will also be hindered."
"With his words, we can hardly remain calm for long. If we wait too long, friction will inevitably arise, and suspicion will grow between us. When we are suffering from hunger and cold, I fear that internal strife will break out first, the Sword Alliance will fall apart, and we will fight each other to save our lives, which will only benefit him. The most urgent task is to kill the enemy and make everyone turn their hatred outward."
Thus, the Five Mountains Sword Alliance had no choice but to devise a new strategy of forceful attack to achieve results, boost the morale of its disciples, reduce internal troubles, and prevent further swaying by seditious rumors. The Five Mountains Sword Alliance... the five sword sects, in essence, share the same origin.
The Five Mountains Sword Alliance was formed by joining forces because although the five major sword sects differ in region, martial arts style, and approach, they share the same origin. Each of the five leading elders of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance possesses a scroll of "Sword Manual," which, when pieced together, forms the Five Mountains Sword Formation.
The five elders had already pieced together the formation, but hadn't studied it in detail. Now trapped, they needed to gather the strength of the five sects. At this moment, no one held back, and they began to practice the Five Mountains Sword Formation together.
After a day's work, they had become somewhat familiar with the sword formation. Further practical training was needed, so the five elders led the way, setting up their formation and charging into the enemy ranks. The scene was truly one of a thousand arrows raining down, chilling to the bone, while the five swords struck simultaneously, slaying the enemy.
The disciples, all skilled in swordsmanship, formed a battle formation, cooperating seamlessly. Despite the enemy's superior numbers, as long as their formation remained intact, they could manage to hold their own. In this way, they forcefully broke out of the main hall, unleashing the fighting spirit of all the disciples and elders.
Although the sword sect disciples were still injured, they were all rare elites and would not be easily defeated. Previously, they had been routed by Li Xian's single-handed attack, their morale and fighting spirit severely shaken. Now, charging into battle, they easily disarmed their enemies, shattered their spears, and struck their vitals with their exquisite swordsmanship. Realizing they were not weak themselves, they found Li Xian's actions truly abnormal. A surge of ambition welled up within them, their confidence quietly returning, and they too longed to emulate Li Xian's feat of defeating a superior enemy force.
The more they fought, the stronger their resolve became. He Wentian was terrified, never expecting this turn of events. He drew his bow and fired long-range shots; though his archery skills were superb, they were far inferior to Li Xian's. While they could create some disruption, they couldn't change the course of the battle. The Five Mountains Sword Alliance managed to break through one layer of encirclement. In this battle, a total of 3,700 enemy soldiers were wiped out.
The enemy troops fled in disarray.
The Sword Alliance cheered and were eager to press their advantage and annihilate the enemy. Zhao Chunxia said in a deep voice, "This place is very deep, and there will be many fierce battles to come. It will probably be the norm to not have rest for more than ten days. It is wishful thinking to expect a quick victory. Everyone must be mentally prepared. Maintaining your strength is the most important thing. I know of an enemy camp that contains supplies!"
The elders all said, "Good! Chunxia is right. We must not be eager for a quick victory, otherwise a setback will greatly dampen our spirits. We must proceed steadily and cautiously, step by step. Let's hurry and retrieve the supplies." Zhao Chunxia led the way, fighting her way to a military camp where the women had previously encamped.
The room was well-stocked with supplies, including fruits, vegetables, dried biscuits, water, longbows, arrows, and armor. The elders donned their armor, replenished their equipment, and cooked food to quickly restore their strength.
They took the food they could carry with them, and ate the rest. They charged out again, engaging in several waves of battle. Although the sword sect suffered losses, they grew stronger with each fight.
After rigorous training, the Five Mountains Sword Formation had become more proficient. The five leading elders worked together to kill enemies, allowing them to move freely in and out of enemy lines. Seeing that it was extremely difficult to defeat them in one fell swoop, He Wentian changed his strategy to harassment and encirclement.
The swordsmen initially charged forward with fierce courage, sharpening their blades eagerly. However, after several days of fighting, they inevitably encountered difficulties and their morale began to waver. Coupled with being outnumbered, they started to suffer setbacks and defeats.
Outside the main hall was He Wen's Heaven and Earth Plate. He was extremely familiar with the side passages and secret passages of the tomb... He had set up ambushes and traps along the way, appearing and disappearing unpredictably. The Five Mountains Sword Alliance suffered repeated losses, and the situation became increasingly dangerous and critical.
At this moment, Han Qingxiao, holding a golden plate, suddenly appeared to help the Five Mountains Sword Alliance. Lin Aoshan was overjoyed and said, "Boss Han!" Han Qingxiao was the current Heavenly Patrol Officer. After entering the cave, he was surrounded and attacked by a large number of soldiers, and then he got separated from Li Xian and the others.
Han Qingxiao thought to himself, "If I continue to wander aimlessly, I will inevitably be wasting my time and effort. It would be better to use the golden plate to first draw a map of the garrison and the tomb." So he relied on the golden plate to travel among the many garrison camps and observe the terrain, and drew a map of the tomb, clearly marking all the garrison points.
For over ten days, he focused solely on this one task, after which he gradually heard the faint, resounding torrent of bells. Sensing the impending danger, he dared not reveal himself easily, secretly maneuvering around. It wasn't until he saw He Wentian mobilizing a large number of troops that he realized a major internal upheaval had occurred. Taking advantage of the chaos, he infiltrated and met with the members of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance.
Seeing that the Five Mountains Sword Alliance was unfamiliar with the terrain and was suffering repeated losses, they showed up to help. Having lost his advantage, He Wentian panicked greatly. He dared not linger in the tomb any longer. He didn't hate the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, but he hated Wen Caishang intensely.
All these events and causes were stirred up by Wen Caichang. He wanted to escape from the tomb, so he ordered soldiers to guard the opening. Anyone who peeked out was immediately shot dead with arrows. By this time, he was already in a state of panic and was no longer capable of accomplishing anything.
Unexpectedly, during his escape, he was ambushed by a soldier who had managed to break free. Caught off guard, he injured his leg and turned around in shock. The soldier removed his disguise, and it was none other than Gu Nianjun!
That day, Gu Nianjun accidentally stumbled into the "Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Cave" and was soon surrounded by soldiers. After she escaped, she found the situation increasingly strange. So she devised a plan to hide among the soldiers.
She and Wen Caishang entered the tomb one after the other. The tomb was dark, and both women caused a disturbance and a siege. Gu Nianjun hid herself, while Wen Caishang deliberately revealed herself. As a result, the soldiers only knew that Wen Caishang had infiltrated the tomb, neglecting Gu Nianjun. When the enemy besieged Wen Caishang, they suffered heavy casualties, necessitating the dispatch of reinforcements. Gu Nianjun used this opportunity to infiltrate the tomb.
At this time, no one knew of her existence. They only thought that by chance, Wen Caishang had attracted He Wentian's attention, and that he was inevitably neglecting her when he was busy with other matters.
Gu Nianjun had intended to leave after her initial investigation. However, by chance, she overheard He Wentian's plot to capture the women of the Five Mountains Sword Sect and then frame the Flower Cage Sect. She was terrified, never expecting that He Wentian, seemingly gentle, harbored such ambition and acted with such cunning and ruthlessness that he was despicable. She decided to sneak out and tell him.
But before she could escape, she heard that He Wentian's scheme had succeeded and the women of the Sword Sect had been captured. Gu Nianjun was shocked. She thought to herself that she was not very familiar with the tomb and that it was already lucky that she had sneaked in. If she wanted to escape perfectly, she would inevitably leave a flaw. And since she had already infiltrated the enemy ranks, why not take this opportunity to secretly find out where the women were?
She observed the situation from the sidelines while secretly probing. Her efforts yielded little result, but at the crucial moment, she caused He Wentian to suffer a complete defeat. In this way, the Sword Sect members were able to see the light of day again, and after several twists and turns, they secretly captured He Wentian, and the sect remained unharmed.
After several days of rest, the various factions were refreshed and ready to go. However, upon reflection, one matter still needed to be resolved. Wen Caishang's murder of the Sword Sect disciples required a swift and decisive action. But the extent of this matter was extremely difficult to gauge.
Hu Yueyue said, "He Wentian instigated this whole thing first. If we use this as an excuse to cause trouble again, it would make us seem unreasonable." Xiao Wanjian said, "I'd rather be unreasonable than not give an explanation to my dead disciple. He Wentian is certainly extremely despicable, but is Wen Caishang a good person?"
Duan Yixin said, "That's right, the matter of the main hall doesn't count. We martial artists still need to compete with our martial arts in the end." Hou Yuande said, "That's true, but it's not good to cause any more trouble by provoking this person."
Hu Yueyue said, "How about this, we challenge that Madam Wen to a duel, to determine the winner and loser, not to decide life or death. If she loses, she must find a way to comfort her deceased disciple. If she wins, we will not concern ourselves with this matter anymore, and the grudges will be completely settled."
Thus, the Five Mountains Sword Alliance lingered, observing the city's movements. Only after Wen Caishang and Li Xian appeared in the city did they finally show up to pay their respects.
...
In the main hall of Bixiang Pavilion, Hu Yueyue exchanged glances with the five elders and said, "Madam Wen, it is said that there are villains causing trouble in the underground cave. But our sword sect disciples have indeed died, and they cannot die in vain. The five of us would like to challenge you to a duel, to determine the winner and loser, not to decide life or death, and to settle this grudge."
A strange glint flashed in Li Xian's eyes.
(P.S.: I'm writing until 2 AM again, I'm so tired. Thanks for everyone's monthly votes, I wanted to write as much as I could to give back and get it to 8000 words. But then I got a phone call and I have to work overtime this weekend. I'm too busy with work. I'll see how things go and decide when to release more chapters! Or maybe I should make an extra update plan?)
(End of this chapter)
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