Chapter 160 A Gentleman Crosses My Wall

The three heroes of northern Hebei escaped from a desperate situation. Fatty Zhang Biao looked at Shi Potian and wept bitterly, as if he had seen the clear sky.

The eldest brother, Zhao Lie, struggled to get up, while the third brother, Sima Yong, kept his head down and remained silent.

Shi Potian crouched down, looked at the three people lying on the ground, reached out to help Zhao Lie up, and frowned, saying, "How did you get into this state?"

Zhao Lie raised his head, his face bruised and blood still trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his spirit remained. He sighed and said, "Young Master Lin... it's been a long time... thank you for saving me." He didn't want to say anything more.

The second brother, Zhang Biao, also struggled to his feet, but because he was too fat, he rolled several times on the ground before getting up, causing the onlookers to burst into laughter. Zhang Biao didn't care and said to Shi Potian, "Congratulations to the young master escort for avenging his great enemy and becoming famous throughout the world. We three brothers, on the other hand, are down on our luck on the streets and have become beggars. We have no face to face the young master escort."

Qu Feiyan thought to herself, "That fat bastard Zhang Biao is really good at acting."

The third brother, Sima Yong, was tall and strong, but now he couldn't straighten his back. He bent over and said to Shi Potian, "Hero Lin is truly a living Buddha to all families, the great savior of my three brothers."

Shi Potian said, "Are you hungry? Go get something to eat first, and then we can talk about what happened."

Upon hearing this, the three were even more grateful. They had been wandering the martial arts world for many days, their martial arts skills had been sealed, and they had even been bullied while begging for food. They had not eaten for two days.

Shi Potian helped Zhao Lie up and led them to a teahouse, where they ordered a table full of food. The three of them wolfed down their food, finishing it off in no time. Qu Feiyan then asked the waiter to add a few more dishes, and only then were the three of them truly full.

After a hearty meal, Zhao Lie wiped his mouth, sighed deeply, and said, "Young Master Lin, we are deeply grateful. Please feel free to ask us anything; we three brothers will answer all your questions."

Shi Potian said, "Aren't you from the Songshan Sect? How did you end up like this?"

Zhao Lie gave a wry smile and said, "Young Master Escort is indeed insightful. We brothers knew long ago that we couldn't hide anything from him."

"We three brothers are indeed from the Left Sect Leader of the Songshan Sect. Back then, we were being hunted down by the Sun Moon Cult and had nowhere to go, so we sought refuge with the Left Alliance Leader and lived in hiding for decades. When we went to Hengyang City to steal the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual, it was also on the Left Sect Leader's orders."

Zhang Biao continued, "We were defeated by the young镖头 (Young Escort) outside Hengyang City and our martial arts were sealed. After returning to the Songshan Sect, we were secretly uneasy. The young镖头 is going to the Golden Basin Washing Hands Ceremony. Given his chivalrous nature, he will definitely clash with the Songshan Sect. If the Songshan Sect wins, that's fine, but if they lose, our fate is worrying."

"Later, when the news of the young镖头's great defeat of the Five Protectors came back, the Left Alliance Leader did nothing to us, but Fei Bin came back and hated us to the bone. He summoned us and scolded us for being useless, saying that we had not truthfully explained the young镖头's martial arts skills, causing the Songshan Sect to suffer a great defeat and lose face in Hengyang City."

Sima Yong said bitterly, "Fei Bin is heartless and ruthless; he doesn't treat us like human beings at all. He said our martial arts were ruined, and staying at the Songshan Sect was a waste of food. He wanted to kill the three of us, but it was only after the Seventh Protector, Tang Ying'e, pleaded for us that we were kicked out. He didn't even give us a single penny for travel expenses!"

Zhang Biao gritted his teeth and said, "The three of us have risked our lives for the Songshan Sect for thirty years and made countless contributions, but in the end we are still treated as outsiders."

Zhao Lie said, "We three brothers have served the Songshan Sect for many years. Even if we haven't made any great contributions, we have certainly put in a lot of hard work. We never expected that our martial arts would be completely destroyed and that we would be treated like this. The Left Sect Leader won't even see us."

He looked dejected as he said this.

Qu Feiyan sneered, "You all brought this on yourselves. You deserve it. Working dirty work for a ruthless tyrant like Zuo Lengchan, you're lucky you weren't silenced."

"You should thank my brother for sealing your martial arts, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to see the true nature of the Songshan Sect."

Zhao Lie was speechless.

Zhang Biao looked at Shi Potian and said admiringly, "Yes. The young镖头's skill in sealing acupoints and locking meridians is truly unparalleled. We went back to find Alliance Leader Zuo, but even he tried everything he could, and to no avail. For the past two months, we've been practically useless. After leaving the Songshan Sect, we could only beg on the streets and barely survive."

Sima Yong said, "In the territory of the Songshan Sect in Henan, the three of us brothers have a hard time begging. We have suffered cold looks and been beaten repeatedly. Fei Bin, that beast, just wants to kill us."

Zhang Biao continued, "Today on the street, we ran into Xia Chong's three sons-in-law. Back in Hengyang, they were so frightened by us that they fled in disarray, and they've always felt ashamed of it. Now that they see we've lost all our martial arts skills, they've come to take revenge. If it weren't for the young镖头 (chief镖师, a term for a bodyguard/escort) intervening, we'd probably be beaten to death today."

Shi Potian thought for a moment, then reached out and tapped the three of them with his fingers in mid-air, releasing the sealed acupoints and meridians. The three felt a jolt throughout their bodies, their internal energy flowed again, and their long-lost power returned. Overwhelmed with emotion, they burst into tears.

"Young Master Escort, you...you are..." Zhao Lie said in a trembling voice.

Shi Potian said, "I have already untied your martial arts. You will no longer be beaten up."

Zhao Lie stood up and bowed deeply to the ground: "Young Master Escort, you disregarded past grievances, saved our lives, and lifted our restraints, allowing us to start anew. We will never forget your great kindness and virtue. From now on, whatever you command, we will do our utmost."

Overjoyed, Zhang Biao wept, knelt down, and exclaimed, "Great Hero Lin, you have the heart of a bodhisattva! I, Zhang Biao, will burn incense and pray to Buddha for you every day, wishing you that the young镖头 (bodyguard/escort) will soon become the best in the world and the leader of the martial arts alliance!"

Qu Feiyan stared at Zhang Biao in disbelief. This fat man really could say anything. People in the restaurant all looked at him with surprise.

Seeing how well his second brother was acting, Sima Yong couldn't find a better word for a moment. After a long while, he finally managed to say, "I won't thank you for your great kindness. From now on, Sima Yong's life belongs to the young镖头 (bodyguard/escort)."

Qu Feiyan took out a few silver ingots from her bosom and placed them on the table: "Take these. Stop being so impassioned. Find a place to settle down and stop doing evil. Otherwise, your little brother won't let you off so easily. You should know that your little brother will never be lenient when it comes to eliminating evil."

Zhang Biao accepted the silver, clasped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you, young lady."

Zhao Lie solemnly said to Shi Potian, "Young Master Shi, your kindness and virtue are unforgettable. From now on, we will definitely turn over a new leaf and start anew. If we ever do evil again, may we be struck by lightning!"

Shi Potian helped Zhang Biao up and said, "Get up quickly. Remember what you said. Don't do anything bad for the Songshan Sect again."

The three nodded in agreement, expressed their gratitude profusely, and turned to leave.

After taking a few steps, Zhao Lie turned back and gave Shi Potian a deep look. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he ultimately didn't. He then turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Qu Feiyan watched their retreating figures and sighed, "Little brother, you're so kind to them. They were trying to steal your sword manual back then."

Shi Potian said, "They have already learned their lesson and should not do evil again."

Qu Feiyan nodded and said nothing more.

The two returned to the Golden Saber Sect as dusk approached. Lin Zhennan and his wife were talking to Wang Yuanba in the hall when Shi Potian returned. Madam Wang asked, "Ping'er, where have you been? We haven't seen you all day."

Shi Potian briefly recounted his encounter with the three heroes of Jibei. Wang Yuanba listened and sighed, "Zuo Lengchan of the Songshan Sect is ambitious, yet he can't even tolerate his own people. Such a person can't achieve great things."

Lin Zhennan said, "Father-in-law is right. The three heroes of Hebei are ultimately outsiders. Once they are no longer useful, they will be discarded like worn-out shoes."

Taking the opportunity, Shi Potian said, "Father, Mother, Feifei and I have discussed it and we want to go to Zhongnan Mountain."

Lin Zhennan was taken aback: "Zhongnan Mountain? What are we going there for?"

Qu Feiyan said, "Uncle Lin, I heard that a large tomb has been discovered in Zhongnan Mountain. It is the tomb of Wang Chongyang, the founder of the Quanzhen Sect. Inside is the Nine Yin Manual, which is the ultimate Yin cultivation method of Taoism. Sister Long's martial arts deficiencies can be remedied by this method. I want to accompany my brother to find it."

Madam Wang frowned and said, "That happened hundreds of years ago. Who knows if it's true or not? Even if it is, it's probably all been stolen long ago."

Shi Potian said, "Mother, it is said that the tomb door is sealed tightly, and no one can get in. The things should still be there."

Qu Feiyan said, "Aunt Lin, what if the young man is lucky and finds a way in? He's always been very lucky."

Wang Yuanba laughed and said, "If Ping'er wants to go, let him go. My Wang family has been there long ago after hearing the news. The tomb entrance is sealed by a huge dragon-severing stone and cannot be opened at all. Countless martial arts figures have sighed at the tomb and returned in disgrace. So much time has passed and we haven't heard of anyone going in."

"Ping'er is so young, yet her martial arts are superb. She clearly has great fortune. Perhaps she really can find a way in. If not, it'll be good to take a trip to Zhongnan Mountain. Zhongnan Mountain isn't far from Luoyang; it only takes a day to get there on horseback."

Seeing that his father-in-law had said so, Lin Zhennan nodded and said, "Alright then. But be careful on the road, and come back as soon as possible."

Shi Potian was overjoyed: "Then let's leave tomorrow."

Sarutobi Higetsu said, "My lord, I will naturally follow you."

Shi Potian said, "You shouldn't go. Stay here and protect my parents."

Sarutobi Higetsu was secretly delighted, thinking that his lord had begun to take the initiative to assign him tasks, which meant that the lord had accepted him and regarded him as his own. He readily agreed.

That night, the moonlight was as clear as water. Shi Potian lay on the bed, circulating his divine power to continue refining the remaining medicinal power of the Leopard Embryo Tendon-Changing Pill within his body. That medicinal power had already seeped deep into his bones, but it had not yet been fully absorbed. At this moment, with the circulation of the "Even in Death, Heroic Bones Fragrance" mental technique, it flowed like warm currents through the gaps between his bones, continuing to strengthen them.

After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly felt a stirring in his heart and heard a faint sound of a zither. The zither music was clear and melodious, like weeping and lamenting. Although it was actually very far away, it was exceptionally clear to Shi Potian's ears.

Shi Potian was overjoyed. He recognized the music – it had been played by that "old woman" on that ship in Yuanzhou Prefecture.

He sprang to his feet, pushed open the window, and soared out in the direction of the music. Under the moonlight, his figure blended completely into the night sky, silently flying over the streets and alleys of Luoyang.

The music grew closer and clearer. Passing through several alleys, a bamboo grove came into view. Moonlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, scattering like shards of silver on the ground. Deep within the grove lay a small courtyard, with bamboo fences and thatched cottages, simple yet elegant. The music was emanating from there.

Shi Potian walked quietly to the window. Through the paper window, he could vaguely see a woman sitting at a table, playing the zither and singing. That figure, that posture, who else could it be but her?

He gently knocked on the window.

The music stopped abruptly. A soft gasp came from inside the window, followed by a brief silence.

"Miss Yingying, it's me," Shi Potian said in a low voice.

The window creaked open. In the moonlight, a stunningly beautiful face appeared behind the window, with exquisite features and skin as white as snow—it was Ren Yingying.

Her eyes widened in surprise at first, then overwhelmed with joy. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she had a thousand words to say but couldn't utter a single one. Instead, she blushed and lowered her head.

It was a case of wanting to speak but being too shy to, yet saying that her beloved was quite the charmer.

The two looked at each other, speechless for a moment. Moonlight shone on them, and the bamboo grove rustled, as if only the two of them separated by this window remained in the world.

"You... why are you here?" Ren Yingying finally spoke, her voice soft, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

Shi Potian laughed and said, "I knew it was you as soon as I heard the music."

Ren Yingying lowered her head, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said softly, "Your ears are quite sharp." She paused, then looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears, "Are you... are you alright? Have you found Ping Yizhi yet?"

Shi Potian said, "Found him. A lot happened afterward. What about you? Did you manage to catch up with the Starry Sky Immortal King?"

Ren Yingying nodded: "Yes, if it weren't for the arrival of an unknown expert to save them, I would have captured them alive. I'm not someone to be trifled with."

The two remained silent for a moment. Shi Potian said, "Miss Yingying, may I come in and talk to you? I have so much to tell you."

Ren Yingying exclaimed "Ah!", her face turning even redder. She glanced guiltily outside and said softly, "Come in."

Shi Potian jumped through the window and sat down opposite Ren Yingying.

Ren Yingying's heart was pounding, but she forced herself to calm down and said, "Tell me what interesting things have happened to you."

Shi Potian recounted how Qu Feiyan plotted to kill Xingxiu Immortal King after they parted ways at the deserted temple, and continued until Hong Tai came out to rescue them.

Ren Yingying said, "Feifei is quite clever. No wonder they seemed badly injured when we were chasing them; it turns out you were the one who injured them. It's a pity they were rescued. That Hong Tai is so skilled in martial arts that he could fight you to a draw. If I had run into him while I was chasing them, it would have been troublesome."

"Yes, I was worried that you would run into him."

Ren Yingying asked happily, "Are you very worried about me?"

Shi Potian said, "Of course I'm worried. By the way, I also know your full name. You're called Ren Yingying, right?"

Ren Yingying asked in surprise, "Who told you that? Was it Shi Feifei?"

She suddenly raised her eyebrows and said angrily, "Did you tell her what happened at the temple?"

Shi Potian said, "No, I have to keep my promise. How could I tell anyone? It was Xingxiu Immortal King who said you were Ren Woxing's daughter that I found out."

Ren Yingying then turned her anger into joy and said, "I misunderstood you. I apologize."

Shi Potian laughed and said, "It's alright, it's alright, I'm not angry."

She added, "I haven't thanked you yet. Aren't you the Holy Maiden of the Sun Moon Cult? Ping Yizhi and the others all listened to you and came to heal me, didn't they?"

Ren Yingying was taken aback, her face flushed red with embarrassment, and she took three steps back, saying:

"Who is spouting nonsense, Ping Yizhi or the Yellow River Ancestor? I'm going to kill them."