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Yue Buqun led his disciples over. People greeted him all along the way. After all, he had spent years cultivating the image of the "Gentleman Sword," and he had helped so many people over the years that he probably couldn't even remember them all.

But one man looked at him as if he couldn't stand the sight of him: Yu Canghai of the Qingcheng Sect. His most beloved son had been humiliated by a Mount Hua disciple. Now, whenever Yu Canghai told him to practice swordplay, the boy burst into tears. It was especially bad with Bixie Swordplay. As soon as he tried to practice it, he would throw up and cry.

His four most valued disciples had also gone looking for trouble with Mount Hua's disciples, only to be beaten into swollen-faced wrecks by some unknown people. They were still bedridden and unable to get up. But none of that mattered. What mattered was that the Bixie Swordplay he had coveted for most of his life had ultimately fallen into Mount Hua's hands.

When he saw the Mount Hua party enter the front hall, Yu Canghai snorted. "I was wondering who it was. So it's Master Yue of the Mount Hua Sect. What a grand entrance, Master Yue, arriving at the very end."

Yue Buqun cupped his hands and replied with a genial smile, "I'm truly sorry. The lodge where our Mount Hua Sect is staying is too far away, so we arrived a little late."

Wang Jingyuan stepped forward. "What's it to you?"

Yu Canghai glared at Wang Jingyuan. "You sharp-tongued brat! Sect Leader Yue, is this how you teach your disciples?!"

Yue Buqun lowered his stance even further and apologized to Yu Canghai. "Jingyuan is a new disciple of mine. His family has shown the Mount Hua Sect a kindness we could never repay. If he has offended Sect Leader Yu, I ask that you forgive him.

"If you still can't quell your anger, then hit or scold me instead. I, Yue, will accept it."

Yu Canghai said resentfully, "Is this how the Mount Hua Sect conducts itself?!"

Yue Buqun lowered his eyes and said nothing, merely continuing to cup his hands.

Wang Jingyuan stepped forward again and said arrogantly, "That's how we do things."

As the atmosphere grew more and more hostile, Mount Hua's disciples began to edge closer. Lin Pingzhi, standing among them, suddenly brightened. Is this the situation Senior Brother Wang mentioned before? All those days of practice were for this moment!

Quick as a flash, Lin Pingzhi leaped out in front of Yu Canghai. He stood sideways, his expression resolute as he stared at him, leaving Yu Canghai uncertain. He recognized Lin Pingzhi, but had no idea what he intended to do, so he could only stay on guard.

Lin Pingzhi recalled the "jianghu code words" Wang Jingyuan had taught him. He puffed out his chest, stood bolt upright, and began stomping hard. "The so-called spirit of Mount Hua is unity..."

He was dumbfounded.

It wasn't just Yu Canghai. The Mount Hua party and the surrounding martial artists were all dumbfounded. They stared at Lin Pingzhi in astonishment as he threw himself into his performance.

Lin Pingzhi wasn't stupid. He had barely gotten halfway through when he noticed everyone looking at him—and that none of his Mount Hua senior brothers were joining in. Most importantly, he saw Senior Brother Wang standing in the crowd, grinning like a scoundrel. Then he knew he'd been fooled.

So he stopped and sheepishly returned to the ranks. Yue Lingshan gave him a pitying look and leaned over to whisper, "I told you not to get too close to Junior Brother Wang."

This time, Yue Lingshan was leaning so close to Lin Pingzhi and whispering to him, yet the other disciples weren't indignant. They just gathered around and patted Lin Pingzhi on the shoulder. "Don't take it to heart. We understand you. Junior Brother Wang is... a little off."

Lin Pingzhi's interruption had made Yu Canghai forget what he'd been about to say. Yue Buqun still looked ready to accept any punishment, but Yu Canghai was helpless. Yue Buqun could offer himself up like that, but Yu Canghai couldn't actually attack him. It wasn't just Yue Buqun's reputation; what if Yu Buqun fought back?

He knew he wasn't well-liked and couldn't compare to Yue Buqun. The martial artists present would probably just stand by and watch as Yue Buqun beat him into a swollen-faced wreck.

Yu Canghai snorted and left.

Qu Feiyan, standing among the Mount Hua disciples, spotted Liu Zhengfeng and happily started to call out "Grandpa Liu." But Wang Jingyuan clapped a hand over her mouth, leaving her mumbling and unable to get a word out.

Wang Jingyuan glanced at her and whispered, "You're just a little orphan I picked up on a whim. How do you know Third Master Liu of the Hengshan Sect?"

Qu Feiyan understood at once that things were different now. Her identity still had to stay hidden, and she couldn't give herself away. Liu Zhengfeng had spotted Qu Feiyan too, and a warm smile appeared on his face. But it vanished in a flash, replaced by a polite smile as he went over to greet Yue Buqun.

"Brother Yue, what an honor to have you here. I'm sorry I wasn't there to welcome you."

Yue Buqun cupped his hands in greeting as well. When Liu Zhengfeng came closer, he looked at Wang Jingyuan and asked Yue Buqun, "This must be the talented disciple Brother Yue recently took on?"

Yue Buqun knew full well what Wang Jingyuan had been up to. He managed an awkward smile and introduced him through gritted teeth. "This is my new disciple, Wang Jingyuan. Jingyuan, this is Uncle-Master Liu of the Hengshan Sect."

Wang Jingyuan felt not the slightest embarrassment and respectfully cupped his hands. "Greetings, Uncle-Master Liu."

"Good, good! Truly, heroes emerge in their youth—courageous and resourceful! Crack! Crack!" Liu Zhengfeng praised Wang Jingyuan repeatedly. But as he went on, his teeth began grinding against each other despite his best efforts.

Abbess Dingyi shook her head at the sight, took a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, and walked over. "Brother Liu, has your injury flared up again? I brought White Cloud Bear Gallbladder Pills. You should take one first."

Liu Zhengfeng composed himself a little and waved a hand. "It's all right, it's all right. I can bear it."

After that, he stopped looking at Wang Jingyuan and simply chatted with Yue Buqun. The Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony hadn't started yet, and most of the martial artists were exchanging greetings and making connections inside Liu's residence, as if they were at a grand reception.

Seeing this, Wang Jingyuan went off to do as he pleased. Unfortunately, this wasn't exactly a proper cocktail party, and apart from the fruit platters, there wasn't anything to eat.

As Wang Jingyuan wandered around Liu's residence, he suddenly spotted a white figure. He looked up and saw Commander Chen admiring the flowers in the rear courtyard. Wang Jingyuan's eyes lit up when he saw him, and he walked over.

"Well, look who it is! The brave investigator's here too?"

Commander Chen heard the familiar voice, rubbed his brow, and turned around. "I'm a Centurion of the Imperial Guard. You'd better show some respect."

"Come on, you're still putting on airs after work? Aren't you tired?" Wang Jingyuan walked over. He noticed the long, straight stem of a woody plant in a pot and casually snapped it off.

The flower Commander Chen had been admiring fell to the ground because of Wang Jingyuan's rough handling. Commander Chen's brow twitched. "Why did you snap it off?"

"Even though I have a sword now, what man could turn down a long, straight branch?"

Commander Chen had suspected this man wasn't quite right in the head the first time they met, so he couldn't be bothered to take offense.

Wang Jingyuan sidled up to Commander Chen. "Those two kinds of water torture and the solitary confinement I told you about before—have you tried them? Were they satisfying?"

That said, the man was a little crazy, but his methods were actually pretty good. Commander Chen replied evenly, "They were useful. Since you brought it up, tell me—what reward do you want?"

"As everyone knows, your Imperial Guard has the best intelligence network. I want to ask you about something."

"What is it?"

"Was the Sun Moon Holy Cult originally the Ming Cult?"

"Hmm?!" Was that something he could ask about?!