The Wuhou Shrine is a renowned historical site in Sichuan, covered with inscriptions from famous individuals. As Zhou Chun browsed through the site, he decided to take a stroll to the Wangjiang Pavilion and ordered some wine and dishes for himself. Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs. A young martial artist, appearing somewhat sinister, ascended the stairs with a face resembling carved jade, although a rather ominous look clouded his countenance. He wore a sapphire-blue embroidered warrior's hat and a large peony pinned by his temple. He sat alone at a table, seemingly engrossed in watching something down below.
Zhou Chun, a bit puzzled by the stranger's appearance, continued to observe him. What he saw on the lower level was a docked boat near the riverbank, occupied by numerous women, with one strikingly beautiful lady disembarking the boat. The martial artist hastily tossed a silver ingot onto the table, presumably covering his food and drink expenses. He was more preoccupied with watching the lady.
Zhou Chun, alarmed by the stranger's intentions, settled his bill and began following him discreetly. They both kept their eyes on the lady while the stranger abruptly rushed downstairs and onto the street. Zhou Chun felt it was his duty to protect the lady's honor and reputation. He began trailing the martial artist, determined not to let him escape this time.
The martial artist's nimble escape skills made it challenging for Zhou Chun to keep up. With each step, the stranger increased the distance, and eventually, he vanished from sight. Frustrated, Zhou Chun realized the stranger had no intention of meeting him.
As Zhou Chun was preparing to head back to his lodgings, a gentle breeze brushed against him. To his surprise, a note had appeared on the table. He stepped out, noticing the stars in the sky and the calmness around him. It was almost midnight, and he heard distant barking from dogs in an alley. Returning to his room, he examined the note. Written on it were just three large characters: "Shi Family Lane."
Though he recognized the characters, Zhou Chun was puzzled by their significance. "What could be related to the Shi Family Lane?" he wondered. His curiosity got the best of him, and he decided to venture into the unknown. He made sure his weapons were ready, locked his door, and carefully descended out of the window.
As he navigated through the city's dark rooftops and alleyways, he noticed a shadow moving with extraordinary speed. When he arrived at Shi Family Lane, the figure had disappeared. Although he wasn't sure which house to visit first, he decided to try the first one.
When he reached the first house, it appeared to be quiet and uneventful. Proceeding to the third house, he discovered a large courtyard. There was a dim light emanating from the upper floor of a building, drawing his attention. He approached the window and observed the scene inside.
To his astonishment, he witnessed a breathtakingly beautiful woman tied up and unconscious on a chair. A man, who Zhou Chun recognized as the martial artist he had followed earlier in the evening, was undressing, evidently intending to violate the woman. Enraged, Zhou Chun yelled, "You vile scoundrel! How dare you defile an innocent woman? Come out and face your doom!"
The man inside, hearing Zhou Chun's words, replied, "Who dares to be so bold? You are interfering with my master's arrangements!" With that, he blew out the light and flung a chair at Zhou Chun before swiftly exiting the room.
Zhou Chun swiftly raised his sword to block the incoming chair and stood prepared for the man to confront him. As he waited for the showdown, a second attacker suddenly lunged at him from behind, but Zhou Chun anticipated the move, quickly parried the strike, and leaped out of the building. The attacker's follow-up strike was fierce, but Zhou Chun deflected it with his sword.
It turns out that this villain was extremely cunning. He threw the chair at Zhou Chun to distract him, and then he leaped out of the window to launch an ambush from behind. Zhou Chun's combat experience saved him from being fatally injured. They engaged in combat for more than ten rounds. Zhou Chun sensed that the martial artist's techniques were very familiar, so he demanded, "Villain, who are you, and what's your name? Announce yourself, and you shall die as an anonymous ghost under my Yunzhong Feihe Sword."
The villain, whose name was Zhang Liang, couldn't help but laugh wildly and replied, "You must be Zhou San, aren't you? My master thought you wouldn't come to Chengdu, but you've unexpectedly walked into your own demise. Your family's patriarch, the Eight-Fingered Zen Master Miaotong, who is known as Many-Armed Xiongmao Tai, is my master. My name is Zhang Liang."
Upon hearing the name, Zhou Chun recognized his opponent. Fear surged through him, knowing that the master, Many-Armed Xiongmao Tai, might intervene. He resorted to his life's ultimate sword technique. His entire body burst into a dazzling flurry of swordplay, tightly enveloping Zhang Liang. Although Zhang Liang was a skilled martial artist, he couldn't match Zhou Chun's skill and found himself entrapped.
Fortunately for Zhou Chun, the homeowner, surnamed Wang, was a martial artist himself. At first, he couldn't distinguish between good and evil during the commotion. He locked himself in his room, wary of interfering. However, when Zhang Liang revealed his identity, the situation became clearer.
Wang, along with his family and servants, came to the aid of Zhou Chun. Zhang Liang realized the odds were against him and made a swift leap, scaling the wall. Zhou Chun pursued him relentlessly and swiftly cut off both of Zhang Liang's legs, causing him to collapse in agony.
The residents expressed their gratitude and urged Zhou Chun to stay and accept their hospitality, but he declined, explaining that they must not make his presence known. He warned them about the master, Many-Armed Xiongmao Tai, who was a sword immortal and vowed to come for his apprentice. Revealing Zhang Liang's capture would jeopardize their safety. Zhou Chun advised Wang to secretly report the incident to the authorities and have Zhang Liang imprisoned, awaiting a future confrontation with his master.
Wang reluctantly agreed to follow Zhou Chun's instructions, and they discussed a plan to keep Zhang Liang's capture a secret. Zhou Chun emphasized the need for discretion and secrecy. Then, he left Wang's home, heading back to his lodgings.
Although Zhou Chun had performed a virtuous act that evening, he couldn't shake his unease. The prospect of an inevitable showdown with Many-Armed Xiongmao Tai weighed heavily on his mind. Sleep eluded him as he pondered his situation throughout the night.
The next day, after finishing lunch at the inn, Zhou Chun went on a tour of various places in the city, hoping to find the whereabouts of the drunken Daoist. However, he had no success for several consecutive days. One day, while wandering, he entered a grove of trees and noticed a glimpse of a wall hidden among the greenery, indicating the presence of a temple.
Feeling thirsty, Zhou Chun decided to approach the temple gate with the intention of seeking a refreshing drink. As he moved closer, he saw a group of riders on horseback approaching the temple at high speed. These riders were about a dozen in number, and while one was dressed in Daoist attire, the rest appeared as commoners but carried concealed bundles that seemed like weapons. The temple gate was initially closed, but as the leader of the group, a burly man, approached, he whipped the gate with his whip three times, causing it to swing open. The riders, along with their horses, rushed inside the temple.
Zhou Chun noticed that the temple was named "Chizao Ciyun Temple," which was a well-known Buddhist temple in Chengdu. The unusual activity happening here puzzled him. He had originally considered entering the temple discreetly to observe, but before he could proceed, he was interrupted by a clump of dry mud that struck his face. He was startled, and he quickly looked around but saw no one nearby.
Zhou Chun's curiosity got the better of him, so he tried to approach the temple gate again, but another chunk of dry mud hit him. He looked in the direction from which the mud came and spotted a person in the distance. This individual was quickly moving away from the temple into the woods. Zhou Chun decided to follow, thinking that the person had targeted him without reason.
As he ventured further into the woods, he was surprised by another projectile of dry mud thrown at him. This time, he couldn't help but be wary of an ambush. His focus heightened, and he saw a thin man fleeing ahead. He began pursuing this individual, recognizing his formidable agility and speed.
While chasing the man, Zhou Chun contemplated the reason behind these mysterious actions. He considered the possibility of an enemy plotting against him, particularly because the man's martial skills appeared to be on par with his own. It seemed suspicious to him, as if the man had lured him to this remote location for a specific purpose.
After a substantial chase, Zhou Chun yelled for the man to stop and listen, but his calls were ignored. The man eventually halted by a tree, which gave Zhou Chun hope. However, as Zhou Chun drew closer, the man dashed away, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Frustrated, Zhou Chun realized that he wouldn't catch up to the man.
As Zhou Chun approached the tree where the man had stopped, he discovered a paper package on the ground. Inside were two pills labeled "To be kept for future use - impervious to all poisons." Zhou Chun couldn't decipher the intentions behind this gift, so he put the pills in his pocket.
The incident made Zhou Chun even more suspicious about the temple, as it was evident that someone had tried to divert him from danger. He knew he was no match for the enemies he faced, and he decided to free himself for the time being. Dejected, he retraced his steps.
Zhou Chun hadn't walked far when he encountered a large bell hanging from a tree by the side of the road. He found it strange, as he hadn't noticed it during his earlier pass. Considering the weight of the bell, he was puzzled how someone could have hung it there without a massive amount of strength.
Curious about the bell, Zhou Chun noticed a nearby house and decided to inquire. However, as he approached the house, he heard cries for help. Acting on his chivalrous instincts, he moved to the rear of the house to investigate and was left shocked by what he found.