Upon entering, the two saw a man and a woman playing chess at a stone table.
"What a beautiful woman, even more beautiful than Miss Long." The two couldn't help but compare the two women the moment they saw Dongfang Bubai.
The two then looked at the man and showed expressions of surprise.
"A Taoist priest? What's this Taoist priest doing here?" Song Zhi and Song Lu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise and doubt.
"Song Zhi and Song Lu greet you both," the two men said, bowing.
Li Daoyi gently placed the black piece, then slowly raised his head.
"I have long admired the Song Clan of Lingnan," Li Daoyi said with a smile.
"I dare not accept such praise. May I ask who you are?" Song Zhi said politely.
"Li Daoyi, this is Dongfang."
“So it’s Master Li and Miss Dongfang,” Song Zhi replied.
"Ah, Li Daoyi, you, you are the Taoist priest who tells stories at Yuxian Tower." Song Lu exclaimed in surprise.
Song Zhi also looked at Li Daoyi with a surprised expression.
"That is indeed me." Li Daoyi nodded slightly.
Song Lu immediately became extremely excited, as if he had met his idol.
"I have always admired you, Master, but I never expected to see your true face today."
"Haha, I'm just a storyteller from the martial arts world, nothing special. Please, both of you, have a seat." Li Daoyi smiled and pointed to the chair next to him.
"Sister Dragon, I want to eat honey." At this moment, Mengmeng, who was in Little Dragon Girl's arms, blinked her big eyes and said with longing.
"Alright, Long'er, go make it for her. This little cat won't be at peace unless she gets some food." After Li Daoyi finished speaking, he flicked his sleeve, and the two porcelain bottles that the two of them had just placed at their feet slowly flew up and then slowly flew into the kitchen next to them.
"Aww, time for honey!" Mengmeng happily let Xiaolongnu carry her into the kitchen.
The Song brothers were shocked. That move was not something anyone could do. It seemed that this Taoist priest was indeed a super master.
"What stage has your brother Song Que reached in mastering the Eight Forms of the Heavenly Blade?" Li Daoyi suddenly asked.
The two brothers were taken aback at first, and then Song Zhi spoke.
"My elder brother has now mastered the seventh strike."
"The seventh strike? I guessed wrong before. Song Que is currently in the mid-to-late stage of Grandmaster. But since he has already reached the seventh strike, he is very close to touching the ninth strike." Li Dao nodded.
"The ninth strike? Wasn't there only eight strikes?" Song Lu asked, puzzled. He then looked at his brother, Song Zhi, only to see that Song Zhi looked as if he had seen something unbelievable, utterly shocked.
"Second, second brother." Song Lu was startled and quickly shook Song Zhi.
"I never expected that you, Daoist, would even know this. Although the Heavenly Blade Eight Styles is called eight styles, there is actually a hidden style after the eight styles, which is the ninth style. I learned this from my elder brother by chance. I thought that only the two of us knew about this. I never expected that you, Daoist, would know it. Could it be that you, Daoist, can predict the future?" Song Zhi said in shock.
"I dare not claim to be a prophet, but I am quite familiar with the four great masters of the world," Li Daoyi said, feigning mystery as he looked at the two of them.
"The Four Grandmasters?" Dongfang Bubai asked curiously. She had only heard Li Daoyi mention Song Que, the Grandmaster, before, and had not heard of the others.
"Song Que of the Lingnan Song Clan, the number one master of the sword, with the cultivation of a Grandmaster. Song Que is the Heavenly Sword, the unparalleled Heavenly Sword. After obtaining the sword, he forgot about the sword, and had nothing else besides the sword. He is also the most outstanding and leading figure in the Southern martial arts world," Li Daoyi said.
The Song brothers were astonished, never expecting that Li Daoyi knew his brother so well.
"The Grandmaster of Taoism, Ning Daoqi, is known as the number one person in the Central Plains and is also one of the three Grandmasters of the Central Plains. His special move is the Eight Strikes of the Scattered Hand. If Song Que has now fully mastered the seventh strike, then the two of them will be evenly matched."
"The other one is the Evil King Shi Zhixuan. Shi Zhixuan is the number one expert of the Demonic Sect and a Grandmaster. His martial arts include the Undying Seal Technique and the Illusionary Demon Body Technique, and he has derived the Seven Illusions of Undying from the two. In his early years, he accidentally killed his wife, which caused him to become mentally unstable, neither good nor evil. He once hid in the Buddhist sect for more than ten years under an assumed name and became a highly virtuous monk. He is proficient in both Buddhist and demonic paths. His cultivation is slightly inferior to Song Que and Ning Daoqi, but he is treacherous and cunning, and his knowledge is diverse. Even the two Grandmasters may not be able to kill him."
"As for the last one, it is Grandmaster Fu Chae-rim of Goguryeo. He is famous throughout the world for his unique Yi Sword Technique. Using all living beings as chess pieces and heaven and earth as the chessboard, his Yi Sword Technique is unique. He has three female disciples, namely Fu Junzhuo, Fu Junyu, and Fu Junqiang. Because of his existence, Goguryeo, a small island nation, has been able to survive to this day, but I'm afraid it won't last long." Li Daoyi gave a brief account of the four Grandmasters.
"I admire you, I admire you. You are truly a divine being. Even I don't know all of this." Song Zhi said with admiration.
"Then are there no other grandmasters in the world?" Dongfang Bubai asked curiously.
"Oh, well, it's hard to say. There are some, but they can't easily show themselves right now. Others have to hide for some reason. I'll tell you more about them later," Li Daoyi said slowly, looking at Dongfang Bubai.
"Hmm." Dongfang Bubai nodded.
Li Daoyi then chatted with the two men, from Yangzhou to Lingnan, which shocked them greatly. They were astonished that he was so familiar with their territory and even had some insightful opinions on certain issues.
"Hehe, it's ready, it's ready, the honey chicken wings are done." A moment later, Mengmeng ran out carrying a large porcelain basin filled with chicken wings.
Li Daoyi quickly waved his sleeve, and the chessboard on the table instantly disappeared.
Mengmeng stumbled and placed the basin on the table.
"Aren't you afraid of falling?" Dongfang Bubai pinched Mengmeng's chubby little face affectionately.
"No way, I want to eat!" Mengmeng said, reaching out to grab the chicken wing.
"Wait a minute," Li Daoyi quickly scolded.
"What?" Mengmeng pouted in dissatisfaction.
"Look at your hands," Li Daoyi said disdainfully.
Mengmeng stretched out her chubby little hand, which was covered in a dark patch.
"Hehehe, I was just tending the fire for Sister Dragon!" the little guy laughed.
At this moment, Little Dragon Girl also came out. She came to Mengmeng's side, drew a circle in the air with her hand, and instantly conjured a water ball.
"What is this?" Song Zhi asked in shock.
Little Dragon Girl put Mengmeng's little hands into the water ball to wash them.
"Taoist arts," Xiaolongnu said softly. Having reached the Qi Refining stage, she naturally knew basic Five Elements Taoist arts, as did Dongfang Bubai.
"Taoist arts?" The two brothers were completely bewildered.
Soon, the little one's hands were cleaned, and he couldn't wait to grab a chicken wing and start eating.
"Delicious, so delicious!"
"You two should try some too!"
After finishing their meal and chatting for a while, the two brothers got up to say goodbye.
"Master Li, we came in a bit of a hurry this time and didn't know that Miss Xiaolong was with you. We didn't prepare any gifts, which is really impolite," Song Zhi said apologetically before leaving.
"Haha, it's alright. Didn't you already send the honey?" Li Daoyi laughed.
"Um, Daoist Master, when will you be going to Yuxianlou to tell stories again?" Song Lu asked somewhat embarrassedly.
"Well, how about three days from now?" Li Daoyi said after thinking for a moment.
"Three days?" Song Lu couldn't help but look at Song Zhi, his eyes filled with a pleading look.
"Alright, alright, the fleet can just eat for a day and then head back," Song Zhi said with a smile.
"Thank you, Second Brother."
The two then bid farewell and left, this time with only Niu Er leading the way.
"I'd like to go to the city next time too," Dongfang Bubai said, watching the two figures disappear into the distance. After all, she wasn't Xiaolongnu, who could endure being alone in one place. As the former leader of a sect revered by thousands, she had always lived amidst bustling activity.
“Alright, let’s go then. Long’er will come along too.” Li Daoyi said, looking at Xiaolongnu.
"Hmm." The latter simply nodded slightly.
"I want to go too, I want to go too!" Mengmeng suddenly jumped onto Li Daoyi's head and clung to him tightly like an octopus.
"Let go, let go, my little ancestor, don't you know how strong you are?" Li Daoyi shouted.
"Hehehe, I want to go too." Mengmeng let go of Li Daoyi's head, but still clung to his neck.
"Go away, go away, you almost strangled me to death," Li Daoyi said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hehe..." The little guy immediately beamed with joy.
"But let me make it clear beforehand, you can't leave my side even for a moment." Li Daoyi still specifically instructed him.
"Alright, I won't divorce you then." The little one nodded obediently, but Li Daoyi still had deep doubts about her.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of Mengmeng." It was Dongfang Bubai who reassured Li Daoyi, who was relieved. Otherwise, he was afraid that this guy would cause some trouble again.
Three days later, at dawn, the Grand Canal was shrouded in mist. A luxurious dragon boat was sailing on the canal, slowly approaching the Yangzhou dock. Through the mist, one could see Yang Guang, dressed in magnificent robes, on the dragon boat, with Empress Xiao beside him. Behind them were Yuwen Huaji and Dugu Sheng, respectively. A minister who looked to be about forty years old stood respectfully a few steps behind them.
"Yangzhou is so much more comfortable. I'm really bored in Daxing," Yang Guang said, looking at the dock.
"Your Majesty is right. Yangzhou's scenery is indeed unparalleled in the world. Every time I come here, I am so happy that I forget all my homeland," Yuwen Huaji said with a smile. At this time, Yuwen Huaji had not yet dared to harbor any disloyalty towards Yang Guang and was also one of Yang Guang's trusted and favored ministers.
"Did you see the letter that was sent back from Lingnan?" Yang Guang asked.
"Your Majesty, I have seen it," Yuwen Huaji replied hastily.
What are your thoughts?
“Alas, the Song clan is powerful, not to mention Song Que is still around. I think it’s best to appease them and not push them too hard,” Yuwen Huaji said in a low voice.
"Minister Pei, what about you? What are your thoughts?"
At this moment, Yang Guang turned around and asked the ministers standing behind the group.
He had been keeping his head down, eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought, when a glint flashed in his eyes. He then composed himself, raised his head, and spoke.
"My opinion is the same as Lord Yuwen's; it is best to deal with the Song Clan step by step." This person was Pei Ju, one of Yang Guang's confidants. He had once used a scheme to divide the Turks and was highly trusted by Yang Guang. However, his other identity was unknown to the entire court. His true identity was the Evil King Shi Zhixuan.
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