Those words startled Xu Qiao. Xu Qiao heard that Bao Xinfei had already announced that she was dead, killed by Jinshui, but in she didn't expect Bao Xinfei to say it loud in front of her and so many people.
"Er… erniang, what did you say?" she asked in a trembling voice.
"Xu Furen, I can't blame you for disowning Xu Guniang just because you were afraid that people would call you to fail to raise Xu Louzhu's daughter," Huang Yu said. "However, Xu Guniang was just about to reveal the identity of the person who killed Xu Louzhu, the real enemy of Xu Family. Your enemy. You shouldn't renounce it."
"The killers of Xu Chenghai and his family were you, Yumen people," said Bao Xinfei. "Huang Gongzi is one of them, there's no need to make excuses to blame others."
"Yes," replied Huang Yu. "I'm Huang Yu, the descendant of Chailang Shifu, one of the eight descendants of Yumen Sect."
The people who had arrived around the monuments were murmured upon hearing Huang Yu's confession. As some more people came in, the situation was tense. With the murder of Jianyin Bang members, it would not be easy to avoid a fight.
"Two of the eight Yumen descendants are already here, where are the other six?" one of the two old men who had just arrived asked. These two old men, one of whom was stooped and had a long beard, the other was tall but limping, both of whom carried jars of wine at their waists which were quite conspicuous. Those two old men were known as Jiuya Ersheng (Two Elders of Wine Valley), Shi Wen, and Shi Gang.
"Yuan Zhangmen said she had managed to capture five of eight Yumen descendants, why don't you just show them to everyone here?"
That last voice belonged to a pockmark-faced middle-aged man, coming from the other direction followed by eight similarly-looking men. Those who present recognized him as Baisui Zuodu Zhou Sangong, the current ruler of Wansui Gu. The men who came with him were a group of poisoners. Some parties stepped aside to let them walk through.
"Yuan Zhangmen had asked her disciple to send a letter to Wansui Gu, informing me that on the fifteenth of the eighth month, the descendants of Yumen will gather here, and specifically asking for the help of Wansui Gu's master to confront and take action against them," Zhou Sangong emphasized the word asking for help. "I feel very curious not only because I want to know what the Yumen descendants look like, but also because the great leader of Haitang Jian Pai actually looks at us Wansui Gu who are considered no more than a bunch of poisoners."
"My master knows that preventing the return of Yumen Jiao is an important matter and the opportunity to capture the descendants will not come a second time, so we invite anyone who can come in a short time," Yuan Wancui's second disciple, Yunhe, replied to his words. "Even Jiuya Ersheng are here, Zhou Guzhu doesn't need to feel special."
At that time, Han Budian had already woken up, and he immediately rushed toward his master. Li Zuyang and his friend went to check on Zhong Shaoyan's condition, finding that the leader of Jianyin Bang was still alive, but seriously injured.
"Hua Jinshui, help my master," Han Budian shouted at Jinshui. His voice was clear enough to be heard by all who were there, immediately telling them that the massacre of the Jianyin Bang people just now was not done by Jinshui.
Jinshui pulled Xu Qiao over to Zhong Shaoyan. Yuan Wancui was about to rush toward him but she was blocked by Huang Yu.
"Yuan Zhangmen, are you not willing to watch our jiaozhu help someone else?" Huang Yu asked, "do you just want to watch him slaughter people and commit crimes?"
Yuan Wancui put away her sword and stepped back, Bao Xinfei following. In front of so many people, they wouldn't be able to act recklessly and hinder Jinshui, could only watch as Jinshui really used his inner energy to help Zhong Shaoyan, trying to keep him alive.
The young man who was with Li Zuyang had given orders to a number of his followers, the members of the Yongjun Hui, to take care of the bodies of the Jianyin Bang people who were killed there. A few minor party followers helped them. A moment later the trace of the massacre were cleaned up. Huang Yu picked up a thin silk thread that was left in the place, showing it, especially to Bao Xinfei.
"Xu Furen, have you seen this secret weapon before?" he asked. "If I'm not mistaken, three years ago the members of the Xu Family were killed with a very similar secret weapon. There was no bleeding, but this secret weapon was able to slice internal organs and took life in instant. I witnessed the death of my parents with my own eyes the very same way, only a while ago I found out who did it."
"The Xu Family members were all killed by a sword," Bao Xinfei said, not wanting to admit the nearly bloodless wound that had caused the deaths of Xu Chenghai and his family.
"It's fine if Xu Furen doesn't want to admit it," said Huang Yu again, "then this yin shou yang zhang is a rare martial art, I don't know if anyone here has heard of it."
"Yin shou yang zhang is the secret art of Jianyin Bang," Yuan Wancui said, "are you trying to tell us that Zhong Bangzhu was nearly killed by his own brother?"
Jinshui had given Zhong Shaoyan enough pure energy. He handed the leader of the Jianyin Bang back to Han Budian, then returned to the center of the arena followed by Xu Qiao. Zhong Shaoyan had escaped death, but his injuries were severe and he was still unconscious. Han Budian took him away to rest in a quieter place, declaring that day couldn't help Jinshui and the descendants.
"You've also seen it yourself, young bangzhu of Jianyin Bang has asked Jinshui to save Zhong Bangzhu. I and Jinshui did try to prevent the massacre that happened here just now, we should have succeeded if the other six descendants were also here," Huang Yu said again, "Xu Family Massacre, the murder of my parents three years ago, the corpses here that have not yet cooled, are all the work of Xie Tianhu and Xun Tianyi, the second and fifth disciples of Liangtian Jian Shen Zhang Zheliang."
Those who were there looked surprised and whispered one to each other. Li Zuyang and his companions had just come to examine Han Budian and Zhong Shaoyan's injuries and had also seen the cause of death of the people of Jianyin Bang. However, it seems that they were still unfamiliar with the yin shou yang zhang and such a special secret weapon, they weren't really sure.
"Nonsense," Bao Xinfei stepped forward to face Huang Yu. "Xie Tianhu was also killed three years ago in Huofeng Lou, Xun Tianyi had been gone longer. The crimes committed by the Yumen descendants, do you only dare to inflict on the dead?"
"Erniang, it really is Xie-shu," Xu Qiao said, "he almost killed me a while ago. He's alive, the corpse we found in daxian ke, it wasn't him."
"I don't know you," Bao Xinfei replied with bloodshot eyes. "Your words are meaningless."
"No one will believe Xu Guniang's words. When she said that Liangtian Jian Shen's two disciples had risen from the dead and committed crimes, no one here would even care. Because today's meeting at Yongshi Bei was for the sake of taking action against the descendants of Yumen, not to open old wounds or deal with the enemies of the Jianyin Bang."
The one who spoke those words was a young man who sounded annoying, his tone mocking and at the same time carrying his own emotions. The one who spoke did not immediately visible to everyone there, making some try to find the source.
"Zaixia Lin Jixuan, the son of Banye Xiake Lin Tongtian from Wuling," the owner of the voice introduced himself. A moment later a young man seemed to have floated down from the top of the trees, alone, carrying a folding fan in his hand. He purposely flaunted his beifeng qi using the folding fan, making sure that whoever was there recognized him.
"Lin Gongzi. He is the son of Lin Daren," some recognized his style. Yuan Wancui did remember that young man since the meeting in Bai Tu Shanzhuang a few months while ago.
"My father is shutting himself down for a regular practice of his inner energy. He can't come here to help Yuan Zhangmen deal with the Yumen descendants," Lin Jixuan said as he paced back and forth as he pleased. "Especially since it's said that these Yumen descendants are just a bunch of young people, it would be degrading my father's reputation to have to travel all the way here just to face them."
He had not mentioned himself as Xiezhang's descendant, secretly insinuating Yuan Wancui as a senior figure and the leader of the major sects who had forgotten her position and intended to take care of a group of nameless youths. His words instantly changed Yuan Wancui and her followers' expressions.
"Hua Jinshui has the inner energy given by Yumen guardian, he is also the illegitimate son of demon leader Wu Youwei," Bao Xinfei replied. "The descendants of Yumen intend to resurrect a heretic sect and bring chaos to the martial world. In order to prevent future disasters, my master should step in today."
"Oh," Lin Jixuan replied. "Yes, my father told me, the heretic sect will bring disaster, massacre innocent people, make us all unable to sleep peacefully, eat bad food, and live in fear all the time." He walked over to the young man beside Li Zuyang, patting him on the shoulder with his fan. "Plus, the people of the sect are said to master high-level martial arts. If anyone in the martial world wants to take names, it will be shameful to be defeated by them. Am I right, Huan-xiong?"
The young man beside Li Zuyang was apparently the only son of the current leader of Yongjun Hui, Hei Bao Jiangjun Huan Jiaozheng. His name was Huan Chaoyu. Lin Jixuan's words just now alluded to his father who had been defeated by one of the Yumen hall masters which then made him provoke Yuan Wancui and Lin Tongtian to attack the Yumen headquarters thirteen years ago.
But Huan Chaoyu didn't seem too affected by Lin Jixuan's words, his comrade Li Zuyang was also still holding back. They just stood there, not doing anything.
"Thirteen years ago," Lin Jixuan said again, but only for a moment did he pretend to be counting on his fingers. "Not true, more, I was just a baby then," he mockingly imitated holding a baby in his arms, "Huan Jiaozheng, Huan Menzhu was coming to my father for the first time. He said he was going to borrow my father's Wuyuan Dian to attack Yumen Jiao's headquarters. At that time I did not really understand. But only then did I begin to understand, Huan Menzhu told my father that Yumen Jiao was a threat to the country, inviting him to get rid of this threat."
"Lin Gongzi's words are not wrong," Li Zuyang acknowledged calmly, "Indeed Yumen Jiao was a threat at that time, and we Yongjun Hui were worried that if this threat was continued, it would become a disaster in the future."
"My father Lin Tongtian was the leader of Wuyuan Dian, a justice enforcement agency that worked directly under imperial control. He had the task of protecting the country from any threats," Lin Jixuan said again. "Which sect will bring disaster, or which group is needed to support our work, it's all written clearly."
"Lin Gongzi, what do you actually want to say?" Zhou Sangong asked.
"I'm not here to bore all of you with something that happened in the past," Lin Jixuan continued with a smile on his face. "I remember my father initially refused Huan Menzhu's request, and the following year I know he also refused again. Because he and Wuyuan Dian knew, Yumen Jiao was the martial world's greatest defense against the true demonic sect. I believe, some of you here still remember the name Liu Songqiao."
The people who were there whispered to each other again. It seemed that this name was still remembered. Several people nodded their heads, realizing that Lin Jixuan's words were true. Liu Songqiao had his own sect, and many followers, and was a big threat in the past twenty or thirty years.
"Liu Songqiao is gone," Li Zuyang suddenly said, "What I know is that the Yumen leader at that time, Wu Youwei, who could be said to be the second Liu Songqiao, kidnapped talented children from their parents, practiced various heretical arts, sacrificed human souls. If we from Yongjun Hui did not provoke an attack on Yumen headquarters, it will be the same as a big disaster."
"Taking talented children can't be said to be kidnapping, because Yumen always needs people with ability," repeated Lin Jixuan. "Sacrificing human souls and practicing heresies didn't really seem to exist, it was just your Yongjun Hui nonsense to provoke people."
"Lin Gongzi is the son of Lin Daren, one of the three alliance leaders who destroyed the Yumen headquarters thirteen years ago," Li Zuyang was a little impatient. "But your words just now sounded like defending Yumen Jiao, to inform us here that the descendants should be allowed to resurrect Yumen Jiao, to be given the opportunity to erase the bad reputation of the past."
"Yes, exactly like that," said Lin Jixuan. "My father had made the mistake of joining the attack on Yumen's headquarters when he heard that Yumen's leader had been killed, I, his son, would not be so narrow-minded as to listen to the provocations of people who say that Yumen Jiao must not rise again, and the descendants of Yumen must be exterminated." He purposely looked at Yuan Wancui when he said the last sentence.
"Lin Gongzi, I appreciate your father for doing the right thing thirteen years ago," Yuan Wancui said loudly, clearly offended. "You are just a young man, having different thoughts can't be faulted either. It's really me who has gathered the warriors here to discuss matters of the Yumen descendants, as well as determine how to take action against them. Lin Gongzi has nothing to do with everything, please just get out of the way."
"Who told you I had nothing to do with all this?" Lin Jixuan spoke in his regularly annoying tone, staring at Yuan Wancui and waiting for her next reaction. "Ah, I forgot to tell you all, I am Lin Jixuan, the disciple of Xiezhang Shifu, also one of the descendants of Yumen."
His words shocked everyone in that place besides Jinshui, Huang Yu, and Xu Qiao. No one would have guessed that the son of Banye Xiake Lin Tongtian would call himself one of the Yumen descendants. Some thought Lin Jixuan was just making things up, and some reacted and prepared their weapons.
"Lin Gongzi, earlier when you arrived here, you deliberately flaunted your Lin Family's beifeng qi, obviously you are Lin Daren's son, why suddenly claim to be one of Yumen's descendants?" Huan Chaoyu asked.
"What's wrong with that?" Lin Jixuan played the fan in his hand. "If Huan Shaomenzhu is curious, you can try a move or two with me."
"All right," Huan Chaoyu replied lazily, then stepped forward and pitted some moves with Lin Jixuan. Lin Jixuan already called himself the descendant of Xiezhang, so he no longer relied on beifeng qi, but played the techniques taught by his master. Everyone there can see clearly, he used Yumen Jiao's mainstay skill, wuqing xue.
Huan Chaoyu dealt with him perfunctorily, not in the least bit intent on bringing up his father's reputation, not showing any meaningful gestures to show that Yongjun Hui was a major sect. Several times he even let himself be hit by the fan in Lin Jixuan's hand, one time pretending to slip. His comrade Li Zuyang watched in annoyance but didn't act either.
"Shaomenzhu, pardon me," Lin Jixuan suddenly said, then hit Huan Chaoyu's chest quite hard, sending him flying quite a distance. Huan Chaoyu was still able to stand up, he wasn't angry and after a while, he just walked away.
"Shaoye," Li Zuyang quickly followed him, also leaving the place. Their followers also naturally didn't want to stay there and listen to people say Yongjun Hui was now only filled with incompetent people.
As the two of them left, several other people came from behind the Wine Valley group, stepped forward, and stopped walking at the edge of the arena. The leading men at the front were two men in their nearly forty years old, their bodies were large and the clothes they were wearing were similar to battle armour. Their faces were calm, their eyes were down.
Behind the two of them were two servants who brought a carved chair, placed it on the edge of the arena, and even cleaned it before leaving. Everyone in the place immediately forgot about the departure of Yongjun Hui people, wanting to know which other figures were coming.
"Eh," Lin Jixuan pretended to be confused to see Huan Chaoyu and his friends leaving, "I haven't shown off any energy given by my master Xiezhang, why did you just walk away?"
A middle-aged man came a few moments later, dressed like a merchant, wearing a long silver robe, looking dashing and dignified, his face was bright and calm. He sat on the newly placed chair, two men in battle armor standing on either side of him, guarding. They didn't immediately introduce themselves, and people whisper to each other.
"Huang Erge, who is that?" Xu Qiao asked Huang Yu.
"The one we are waiting for," replied Huang Yu. He smiled calmly and didn't give any further explanations.
"Brothers and sisters, this is His Majesty Xianjing Wang, I invited him to come here to determine the fate of the Yumen descendants," Yuan Wancui introduced the guest. "The martial world usually has nothing to do with state officials or members of the imperial family, but the problems of the Yumen descendants are related to the security of our nation and at the same time the safety of all the people, we can't help but report. Xianjing Wang holds military power, his position here is as the owner of Wuyuan Dian, part of the three alliances that protect the martial world from Yumen's cruelty."
Some people were about to pay their respects to the newly arrived guest, an old prince. The two guards on the right and left of the prince signaled that there was no need for such custom.
"Wangye only acts as a witness to her," one of them spoke. "My name is Wang Chun, and I'm his bodyguard. I will help Yuan Zhangmen if we have to fight today."
"I'm Sima Yisheng, and I will help Yuan Zhangmen as well," his friend added. "Yuan Zhangmen, please continue."
"Liuxin Meimei's father," Xu Qiao whispered to Jinshui, "why did Huang Erge say he is the one we are waiting for?"
"Just see," said Jinshui.
At that time some of Haitang Jian Pai's disciples had already received a signal from their master, and then went to the back and seemed to be about to take out their catch last night. Jinshui and Huang Yu waited patiently and didn't do anything, Lin Jixuan was walking back and forth while still smiling.
Only a few seconds after, several other people were also present at the meeting, but just stood at the back, doing nothing. Among them was a one-armed young man, as well as a woman holding a toddler.
"Yuan Zhangmen, the news in the martial world says that among these Yumen descendants, some are the sons and daughters of reputable families," a bearded man among those present asked, "Is this news true? Have you got their identity?"
"You all have heard it yourself, one of them is indeed Lin Tongtian, Lin Daren's son," Yuan Wancui said. "The other is Hua Jinshui himself, and also Huang Gongzi, son of Huang Zongbiaotou of Hailang Biaoju. Another one was the daughter of the late Zhu Zixing of Fuxing Dao Jian. Another was the son of a former court healer. I haven't got another one yet, maybe I need some help from the brothers here."
Yuan Wancui had five captives. Two of them were unknown, while the other three should be Li Qian, Zhu Baique, and Liuxin. But now, the head of Haitang Jian Pai didn't mention Liuxin, instead saying there was someone else. Either she didn't acknowledge Liuxin as one of the descendants because the little princess didn't have the energy given by Yumen guardian, or because there was Xianjing Wang here.
The next moment Yunli and Yunxue step out from behind the group of Haitang Jian Pai people, each of them pulled one person who was bound by hands and feet, immediately brought to the center of the arena, and forced to kneel there. The two, one male and one female, were the pair Lin Jixuan and Yue Songdai had captured to serve as subtitutes. Their heads were covered with black cloth, and it seemed that their mute blood paths were also punched so they weren't able to make a sound.
"Brothers and sisters, these are two of the eight descendants of Yumen. They are not the son and daughter of any reputable family so they won't have any influence on any of you here," Yuan Wancui said again, approaching the two captives in the center of the arena. "Today in front of all of you, I will sentence them to death as a warning to the other Yumen descendants."
"Yuan Wancui," Jinshui stepped forward and again drew his sword in front of her. "I Hua Jinshui has always acted blatantly, although is said to be the head of a demon also never did anything that violated the principles of righteousness. But you Yuan Zhangmen, as the head of a sect that always calls itself righteous, have actually used cunning ways to deal with my friends."
"Facing you, the head of the heretic sect, there's no such thing as violating the principles of righteousness," Yuan Wancui immediately replied without thinking. She had been waiting for a long time, hoping that Jinshui would step in as soon as he saw his friends being caught so that she would have a reason to act without worrying about being said to have bullied the young.
"You took an innocent woman hostage, held her daughter from birth, used them to suppress one of us, forced her to betray me, and used poison to trap my friends," said Jinshui, "all these are the actions of the great Yuan Zhangmen, not showing the slightest way of the righteousness sect, don't dare to blatantly confront us Yumen descendants."
"Yuan Zhangmen only did whatever was necessary to deal with the heretic sect," Zhou Sangong replied, deliberately heated up the situation. "If she didn't use a little trick, how would she capture all of Yumen descendants?"
"Yuan Zhangmen, if you want to put them on death row, you must first show us what they look like," Lin Jixuan said. "I think I know these two, but I'm not so sure either. I don't know if they really are Yumen's descendants or just two random civilians."
"Take Zhu Baique here," Yuan Wancui gave an order to her followers.