Fengbo Pavilion (Seeking Recommendations and Bookmarks)

Yin Bukui's Dragon Slaying Saber was naturally not some freebie handed out with a click. On the contrary, it was a genuine divine weapon—one a whole tier above even the Zhuge Divine Crossbow!

More critically, the Dragon Slaying Saber was not merely a divine weapon; it also carried an endless air of mystery within the martial world.

There was even a saying that circulated through the martial world:

The supreme treasure of the martial world, the Dragon Slaying Saber;

It commands all under heaven, none dare disobey;

Before the Heavenly Sword appears, who can contend with it?

The "Dragon Slaying Saber" in the saying referred to the Dragon Slaying Saber, while "Heavenly Sword" referred to the Emei Sect's Heavenly Sword, though that sword was not currently in the Emei Sect's possession.

Not long ago, during Wudang Sect leader Zhang Sanfeng's birthday celebration, Yu Daiyan had obtained the Dragon Slaying Saber through a strange twist of fate while returning to the mountain to wish his master well. Yet because of it, he was ambushed and poisoned by two hidden weapons, Mosquito Stinger Needles and Seven Star Nails. When he awoke from his coma, not only had the Dragon Slaying Saber vanished without a trace, but his entire body was paralyzed and unable to move. He was sent to Du Dajin of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency to arrange an escort.

What happened afterward was roughly the same as what Du Dajin had written in his plea for aid, except Yin Bukui recounted it from Wudang Sect's perspective.

By the time Yin Bukui had finished recounting everything he knew, the two had arrived outside Hangzhou City's western gate. In ancient times, city gates were closed at night to prevent bandits from disturbing the people. During wartime, there would even be a curfew, and ordinary citizens were not allowed outside at all. But the game did not fuss over such things. Everything was designed around player convenience.

As Ye Weiming listened to him, he compared the information Yin Bukui provided against what he already knew. Only after Yin Bukui finished did he extend his right hand and open his palm, revealing two hidden weapons. "The Mosquito Stinger Needles and Seven Star Nails you mentioned—are these them?"

Yin Bukui immediately took them to inspect them.

Mosquito Stinger Needles: A hidden weapon coated in deadly poison. However, since it has already been used once, only one-fifth of its original poison remains.

Seven Star Nails: A hidden weapon coated in deadly poison. However, since it has already been used once, only one-fifth of its original poison remains.

Neither hidden weapon indicated which sect they belonged to, but they were undoubtedly an extremely important clue for their quest. Seeing this, Yin Bukui hurriedly asked, "Brother Ye, where did you obtain these two hidden weapons?"

Ye Weiming did not conceal anything and answered directly, "From Du Dajin and the escorts of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency."

"So that means..." Yin Bukui's eyes lit up. "The person who ambushed and injured Yu Dai... Third Martial Uncle, and the murderer who slaughtered the Dragon Gate Escort Agency—were they the same person?"

That was not difficult to guess, but having evidence in hand was another matter entirely.

Thinking of the fellow who had used claw techniques at the Dragon Gate Escort Agency the previous night, Ye Weiming added, "More accurately, they should be the same group. First, Yu Daiyan and the Dragon Gate Escort Agency's experts were all injured by the same two hidden weapons. Second, before leaving the escort assignment, the other side had threatened that if anything went wrong, they would wipe out the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. Even if there are differences, there must be some connection."

Yin Bukui nodded repeatedly. "But how do we confirm their identities? And where are we supposed to find them?"

Hearing this, Ye Weiming shook his head with a sigh. "The only clue left now is probably the Dragon Slaying Saber. Where are you taking me?"

"To see Zhang Cuishan. No, I should call him Fifth Martial Uncle." As he spoke, he winked at Ye Weiming, clearly meaning that once they met, he could no longer address Zhang Cuishan by name. They had to be polite.

Historically, Fengbo Pavilion had been a pavilion within the Dali Temple prison during the Southern Song Dynasty. It became well known because the national hero Yue Fei had been wrongfully executed there. The setting of Eternal Chivalry was uniformly defined as a fictional dynasty resembling the Northern Song. Only Tokyo Bianliang City had a Dali Temple. Thus, this Fengbo Pavilion had become an ordinary pavilion outside the city, a public facility where players and common folk alike could stop to rest.

From far away, Ye Weiming spotted six Wudang Sect players dressed as Taoists sitting on the grass inside the pavilion, chatting and joking around. Outside the pavilion stood a refined young man with his hands behind his back, gazing out at West Lake. He stood in stark contrast to the players inside, who gave off a distinctly martial-world air.

If not for the Judge's Brush and Tiger Head Hook slung across his back, Ye Weiming would have thought he was a frail scholar with no strength to truss a chicken, putting on airs of elegance. Who would have thought that this seemingly weak scholar had faced seven top Shaolin Sect experts alone the night before and still held his own in a one-against-seven fight?

"Fifth Martial Uncle!" Having brought Ye Weiming close, Yin Bukui immediately cupped his fists respectfully to Zhang Cuishan, carrying himself like a chivalrous hero from a costume drama.

Zhang Cuishan withdrew his gaze and turned around. He first nodded to Yin Bukui, then cupped his fists toward Ye Weiming. "I am Zhang Cuishan of Wudang Sect. Thank you, little brother, for speaking up for justice last night. I had been in a hurry to leave because I heard movement coming from the escort agency's rear hall. I was worried the villains would escape, so I pursued them before I had time to explain myself. Yet they still got away."

Given Zhang Cuishan's status, his willingness to explain himself to Ye Weiming was enough to show that he regarded this Divine Constable Bureau player as an equal. He displayed none of a martial arts senior's arrogance, nor the usual resistance martial-world people showed toward those from the authorities.

Ye Weiming returned the salute without being either servile or overbearing, then went straight to the point. "Brother Yin and I have already discussed the general details of the case on the way here, so there is no need to go over them again. These are the hidden weapons I found on Du Dajin and the Dragon Gate Escort Agency's escorts. Please examine them, Hero Zhang." As he spoke, he opened his palm, and another Mosquito Stinger Needle and Seven Star Nail appeared in it.

Yin Bukui: ???

So that was why he had so readily handed such important evidence over to me. He had more than one set of hidden weapons!

Wait!

He said yesterday that all the escorts in the agency had been killed by hidden weapons. Doesn't that mean he still has a whole bunch of these things?

Zhang Cuishan's eyes narrowed when he saw the two hidden weapons. He hurriedly took them from Ye Weiming and examined them carefully before saying in a deep voice, "These are Mosquito Stinger Needles and Seven Star Nails! My third brother was injured by these two hidden weapons. It seems that those who injured my third brother and those who accepted the escort assignment at the Dragon Gate Escort Agency before massacring the entire agency were indeed the same group!"

Ye Weiming nodded slightly. Zhang Cuishan had reached the same conclusion as he had.

Then he immediately suggested, "The Shaolin Sect is also investigating the truth behind Du Dajin's murder. Since we can now prove that the people who harmed Yu Daiyan and those who destroyed the Dragon Gate Escort Agency are the same group, has Hero Zhang considered cooperating with the Shaolin Sect to investigate this case? I happen to know a Shaolin disciple and can handle contacting him."

Noodle Bun was a decent person. Since they had found a way to cooperate for mutual benefit, Ye Weiming felt it would be better to bring them in as well. That would be fair to his friend, and combining Shaolin and Wudang Sect's strength would also help them complete the quest.

After hesitating briefly, Zhang Cuishan nodded. "Then I'll trouble you, Brother Weiming."

Ye Weiming smiled faintly, then sent Noodle Bun a Carrier Pigeon Message containing the following:

The people who wiped out the Dragon Gate Escort Agency and those who ambushed Yu Daiyan are the same group. I have evidence to prove it. One question: are you interested in working together?

—Ye Weiming

The pigeon flew out, but it did not leave his sight. Instead, it landed directly on a player wearing a bamboo hat and farming water bandits by the shore of West Lake not far away.

The player froze upon receiving the message. After quickly dealing with the water bandit before him, he immediately removed his bamboo hat and changed into a Shaolin disciple's outfit.

The pigeon returned: Thanks for thinking of us, Brother Weiming, but our quest has changed, so... sorry, brother!

In that brief span of time, the dozen or so players farming water bandits by the shore had all changed back into Shaolin disciple outfits, then charged toward them in unison.

The quest had changed?

Sorry?

After a moment of stunned silence, Ye Weiming immediately shouted, "Not good! It's an ambush!"

Thanks to reader Handsome Hu for the 100 Qidian Coins donation!

Thanks to reader Dirt-Eating Youth for the generous 1,100 Qidian Coins donation!

Thanks to reader Blackwater Hermit for the 100 Qidian Coins donation!

The new book is entering its trial period. Seeing all the great authors launching books at the same time has left Dong Liu feeling utterly crushed. If you have time, please check whether you have any recommendation votes left and give Dong Liu some encouragement. And if you could bookmark and follow the book while you're at it, that would be great. If you can also support it with a donation on Monday so it does not fall off the new book rankings, I would be even more grateful.

After being kicked around by several LV5 big shots, your support is the match that lights up my life. It means so much to me!