The Manor

The journey passed without a word—whether because the barbarians had emptied their nests and lacked the strength, or because they simply didn't care about Gu Han and his band like a mere itch or rash.

Along the way, aside from encountering Wang Lang, who barely counted as a master, Gu Han ran into no other Inner Qi experts or large barbarian forces.

Thus, after about an hour, he finally led the remaining hundred-odd disciples of Treasure Pearl Temple to a safe place.

This was an estate that had lain abandoned for decades at the foot of Treasure Pearl Mountain in Fangnan Prefecture, Great Yan, outside Xiongyuan City, surrounded by a grove of bamboo.

As for the estate owner's origins, they were long lost to history, though a legend in the city claimed its master was a Rogue Cultivator who had reached the peak of Blood Tempering centuries ago—a Martial Arts Master of immense strength, unmatched in his time, whose fame shook the eight directions.

But after the ancestor's death, his descendants proved unworthy, never producing a single successful disciple, so they gradually lost their ancestral legacy and quietly moved away.

And because the estate was too remote from the city, no one could be found to take it over, so it slowly fell into ruin, untouched for decades or even centuries by now.

Yet this was merely the public tale; few knew the real reason, and Gu Han happened to be one of those few.

The estate's master was indeed a Martial Arts Master at the peak of Blood Tempering from over three hundred years ago, and truly extraordinary in skill—but he was no Rogue Cultivator at all. He was an outstanding disciple of Treasure Pearl Temple from that era, disguised as such, with his attendants, children, guards, and even his wife all taken in by him as a cover.

As for the purpose, naturally, it was to build a perfect refuge for Treasure Pearl Temple.

This was originally a casual project by the Abbot of Treasure Pearl Temple at the time, who never thought it would actually be used.

After all, Treasure Pearl Temple was not only founded by the legendary Patriarch Bodhidharma but also stood as the foremost Martial Arts Holy Land in Great Yan's martial world. Its prestige was immense among both the common folk and the jianghu, and coupled with Treasure Pearl Mountain's easily defended terrain and the temple's own strength—

It could be said that unless one rebelled against the Great Yan Emperor, provoking him to sacrifice tens of thousands of lives to destroy the temple, this estate would almost never be needed.

But times change, and how could mortals foresee everything?

Back then, who could have imagined that centuries later, a terrifying barbarian force like this would appear on Great Yan's soil?

And who could have foreseen that alongside this barbarian army, a peerless figure like the Barbarian King A Yanda would arise, and that he would personally strike to annihilate Treasure Pearl Temple?

Truly, storms gather unbidden, and fortune and misfortune shift like the weather. No matter how great one's strength or how brilliant the present glory, making several preparations and leaving oneself a way out is never wrong.

Gu Han sighed as he led the disciples into the estate. Then, before a rockery long dried up and overgrown with moss, he worked according to the memories buried deep in his mind for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Finally, with a series of clank-clank-clank sounds, a man-high opening slowly appeared in the rockery, revealing a deep, shadowy passage.

This was the method Ben Zhen had taught him over a decade ago, and he had kept it firmly in his memory.

It could be said that back then, Ben Zhen had valued him greatly, even treating him as the future Abbot of Treasure Pearl Temple. He had not only given him ample elixirs and resources but also revealed all kinds of secrets.

Of course, this did not include Patriarch Bodhidharma's three supreme martial techniques.

Because those were the temple's true ultimate secrets, known and practiced only by successive Abbots of Treasure Pearl Temple.

Even senior monks like Ben Deng and Ben Guan, former heads of the temple with high seniority, could only know of this secret's existence but had no right to practice it. As for newly appointed heads, they weren't even qualified to know of the secret at all.

From this, one could see how deeply hidden these three techniques were, and it also reflected their immense value. Otherwise, even the foremost Martial Arts Holy Land of Great Yan's martial world, Treasure Pearl Temple, wouldn't have to hide them away, afraid to reveal them to the world.

"Alright, go on down. Inside is a cellar covering several acres, enough to hold hundreds of people. The ventilation, warmth, insulation, and even lighting measures are all well-prepared.

Supplies are stored there that can sustain you for three or four years. From now on, stay inside until the barbarian army withdraws, then come out."

Looking at the deep passage, Gu Han first entered to test it, found no issues, then came out and spoke to the young monks, gesturing for them to enter.

"Yes, Uncle (Senior Brother)!"

After the lesson they had just endured, these young monks seemed to have grown somewhat and gained more trust in Gu Han. Each bowed respectfully to him before filing in nimbly.

Clank, clank, clank...

A sound like grinding gears rang out. Gu Han watched the slowly closing door, inspected it carefully, and finding no problems, turned and left.

The young monks were settled, but Jingyuan had yet to return. Gu Han wondered what trouble he had encountered.

After all, with his speed as a Blood Tempering master, he should have caught up to the main group by now. There was no reason for him to still be missing.

"I hope nothing's happened."

Thinking this, Gu Han's heart grew somewhat heavy. In the dozen or so years he had spent in this world, Jingyuan was undoubtedly the person closest to him. Whether in glory or hardship, he had never harbored any second thoughts, always remaining consistent and respectful toward Gu Han.

So, deep down, Gu Han naturally hoped no harm would come to him.

Rustle, rustle, rustle...

Just as Gu Han was about to set off, heavy footsteps crunching on bamboo leaves reached his ears.

"Is that you, Jingyuan?"

Gu Han called out tentatively toward the bamboo grove ahead, his body leaning slightly forward, ready to charge and strike with full force at the slightest sign of trouble, taking the bastard's head!

"Senior Brother, it's... it's me!"

A familiar but weak voice came back. Gu Han focused his gaze and saw Jingyuan, his face twisted in pain, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, clutching his chest and staggering toward him.

"Jingyuan, what happened?"

Seeing Jingyuan's face as pale as gold paper, clearly badly wounded, Gu Han's face showed concern. With a flicker of movement, he was at Jingyuan's side in an instant.

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