Chapter 119 Imperial Ambition

Inside the cabin, the two men pressed their palms together, their inner strength flowing between them.

Shi Potian closed his eyes and concentrated, and the powerful internal energy in his body slowly flowed into Long Kui's meridians, smoothing out the disordered aura caused by her forceful exertion of true energy.

Longkui felt a warm and mellow power coursing through her body, like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain, gradually alleviating the internal injuries caused by the forceful increase in internal energy in her meridians.

About an incense stick later, Shi Potian opened his eyes and slowly withdrew his palm.

"Alright," he said softly. "Sister Longkui, you're mostly fine this time, but please don't do anything for the next few days, or all that dual cultivation will be for nothing."

Long Kui opened her eyes, feeling refreshed and no longer pale; her chaotic breathing had calmed down. A smile curved her lips as she looked at the young man before her, her gaze gentle and tender, and she softly said:

"Young Master Escort, I owe you more and more."

Shi Potian shook his head: "No need to thank me. You're the one I'm protecting."

Is it just a dart?

Longkui laughed heartily, flicked her sleeves, and stood up.

"Let's go, young master镖头." She straightened her bright red robe and looked out the cabin window. "It's already dark."

Outside the cabin, dusk had fallen.

The two stepped out of the cabin and saw that the large ship had already sailed out of Dongting Lake and was now moored on the wide bank of the Yangtze River.

—We've reached the Yangtze River.

In the darkness of night, the river widens, with the verdant mountains on both banks stretching endlessly. Moonlight spills across the surface, shattering into countless silvery scales that ripple gently with the waves. In the distance, fishing lights twinkle faintly, and occasionally, night birds skim across the water, leaving behind a string of clear calls.

A gentle breeze from the river caressed my face, carrying damp moisture, making it refreshing and pleasant.

Qu Feiyan pressed her face against the ship's window, gazing intently, and murmured, "The Night Voyage...it's so beautiful."

Zhang Yuanying stood to the side, gazing at the magnificent night view, and exclaimed, "Although I have seen it many times, I am still overjoyed."

Sarutobi Higetsu also said, "The Tang Kingdom is truly vast; even my Fusang is but a small river."

Young Master Zhang sat cross-legged at the bow of the boat, trying to regulate his breathing. Judging from his expression, his condition was not good.

The Venerable Jin Guang stood guard on the side.

Lin Zhennan and his wife were preparing food with the boatman at the stern of the boat, and the aroma of the food wafted over from time to time, making people's mouths water.

Shi Potian stepped out of Longkui's cabin, and Qu Feiyan waved excitedly when she saw him.

"Come quick, little brother! You haven't seen the Yangtze River yet, have you? Look how wide and beautiful it is!"

Shi Potian walked to her side, looked at the river under the moonlight, and nodded: "Yes, it's beautiful, but I've seen the Yangtze River, and it's even wider than this."

Shi Potian was lost in thought as he recalled his experience with Dingdingdangdang on the Yangtze River in Zhenjiang.

Longkui also came over and leaned against the gunwale, her bright red dress fluttering gently in the night breeze. She gazed into the distance and sighed softly:

"The mighty Yangtze River flows eastward, its waves washing away the heroes of the past. Right and wrong, success and failure, all vanish in the blink of an eye. The green hills remain, witnessing countless sunsets."

"Sister Long, you look much better than before," Qu Feiyan said.

"Yes, thank you, brother, he helped me with dual cultivation again."

Longkui teased her.

Qu Feiyan was unsurprised, but Zhang Huashen and his sister, along with Jin Guang Shangren, were stunned by Long Kui's words about dual cultivation. Zhang Huashen almost choked again.

The three men stared at her in disbelief; was this girl really that bold?

Qu Feiyan laughed heartily as she saw the three people looking at Long Kui with the same expressions they had for a demoness.

After Qu Feiyan finished laughing, she suddenly remembered something and asked:

"Sister Long, that man in the bamboo hat is so powerful, why does he keep trying to kill you? What grudge do you have? Who is he? His martial arts are so high, why is he unknown in the martial arts world?"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, and all eyes turned to Long Kui.

Zhang Yuanying also looked at her nervously, clearly wanting to know the answer as well.

Zhang Huashen could no longer circulate his internal energy, and stood up to listen to what Long Kui had to say.

Longkui was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"This person isn't a member of the martial arts world, so none of you recognize him. But you must have heard of the power behind him."

She paused, then said, word by word:

"He is Yang Yinglong, the owner of Hailongbao."

"What?!"

Master Jin Guang was startled and cried out in surprise.

Young Master Zhang also suddenly opened his eyes, his face full of shock.

Master Jinguang exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Long, you...you mean, that man in the bamboo hat is Yang Yinglong, the chieftain of Hailong Fort in Bozhou?"

Longkui nodded.

Master Jin Guang's face turned deathly pale, and he murmured:

"No wonder...no wonder Hailong Fort suddenly has such strength, launching attacks all over the southwest. It turns out that Yang Yinglong himself is a peerless master. That explains why Hailong Fort has so many masters..."

Zhang Yuanying asked blankly, "Hailongbao? Tusi? What's that?"

Young Master Zhang said in a deep voice, "In Bozhou in the southwest, there is a Tusi family that has been in power for eight hundred years. They have guarded Bozhou for generations and are a powerful force in the region. Even the imperial court has to give them some face. They are truly local emperors."

Everyone suddenly realized, and Qu Feiyan said:

"There are many chieftains in the southwest, with Yi and Miao people living together. The imperial court can't manage them all, so they are left to the chieftains. They are just local tyrants in small places. Why are they so skilled in martial arts and still want to kill Sister Long?"

This was also the question everyone wanted to ask, especially Zhang Huashen. He looked at Long Kui with a serious expression: "Miss Long, why did Yang Yinglong want to kill you?"

Longkui sneered:

"Because he harbors wolfish ambitions, has overstepped his bounds countless times, and has repeatedly feigned compliance with the court while acting recklessly. If the world were to change, this man would surely rebel. And I know too many of his secrets, and I am also the person he fears most."

Master Jin Guang sighed deeply:

"No wonder Hailongbao has been targeting various sects in the southwest lately. People from Emei, Qingcheng, and Diancang have been recruited or eliminated by them. It turns out the mastermind behind it all is a master like him!"

Zhang Huashen exclaimed in surprise, "The fact that Yang Yinglong, the Great Wheel King, the Ming Cult, and the Beggars' Sect have all come together this time is truly blatant proof of their wolfish ambitions. If they were to unleash their combined power, wouldn't the world be turned upside down?"

Master Jin Guang said, "Young Master Hua Shen is right. The imperial court is already struggling in the southwest. Hailong Fort has tens of thousands of soldiers and now has many experts. It occupies a strategic location. If it joins forces with the Tibetans, the Ming Cult, and the Beggars' Sect to start an uprising, I'm afraid the entire southwest will fall into the hands of the imperial court."

Long Kui nodded and said, "This scoundrel stood up for the Beggars' Sect to steal the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms in order to win them over. The Beggars' Sect has tens of thousands of disciples. If they rise up and help him, Yang Yinglong will become another Chen Youliang."

Remembering something, Zhang Yuanying asked, "Then why did he kill my father?"

Long Kui glanced at her and slowly said, "Because your father, Zhang Lianxu, is a peerless martial artist, and besides me, he is the person he fears most. In addition, your father has something he wants."

Young Master Zhang's expression changed: "What is it?"

Long Kui did not answer: "Zhang Lianxu should know. You can go back and ask your father. Yang Yinglong has been planning for that thing for many years."

The river wind howled, causing everyone's clothes to flutter.

Standing at the bow of the boat, gazing at the rolling river flowing eastward, Shi Potian suddenly asked:

"Sister Longkui, will Yang Yinglong come back again?"

Longkui looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"With the young镖头 (Young Escort) around, no matter how many times he comes, he'll only be humiliated. He and the Great Wheel King planned everything, but they never expected the young镖头 to suddenly appear and ruin their plans twice."

Qu Feiyan clapped her hands and laughed, "Yes, yes, yes! Let him come! If he comes again, we'll shoot out his other eye too, and see how he dares to wreak havoc on the world then!"

Upon hearing this, everyone laughed, momentarily forgetting both their own family and country.

Amidst laughter, Lin Zhennan and his wife had prepared the meal and brought it up. Everyone enjoyed a drink together under the bright moon and gentle breeze of the river.

After three rounds of wine, Longkui, in high spirits, recited aloud:

"Heroes rise and fall with the times; once you enter the world of martial arts, time flies by."

"Imperial ambitions and conquests are discussed in jest; nothing beats a life of carefree revelry."