Ancient Temple in the Mountains

Qin Jianghe shielded Zhao Qiushan behind him with one hand.

He carefully sized up the Black Cloak who had made the move.

The man was tall and upright, with slender eyes. Although his tone was laced with a smile, there was an indescribable arrogance hidden within.

Qin Jianghe said coldly, "Centurion Li."

"Why has the Pacification Office come to the Broken Blade Hall to cause trouble?"

Li Wudang chuckled lightly, "You know perfectly well why."

"The jianghu all knows that the Broken Blade Hall has given shelter to a wanted criminal who died suddenly, colluding with that Shen Yi. Are you still going to deny it?"

He waved, dismissing the other Black Cloaks to the side.

Stepping forward, his tone softened, "Just now, my subordinates were merely scolding a bit, but this brother here spoke disrespectfully, saying he wanted to experience the Pacification Office's superior skills."

"Naturally, I had my subordinates satisfy him."

"We are all martial artists, and martial arts sparring is inherently dangerous. I hope Hall Master Qin and that brother won't take it to heart."

Zhao Qiushan was immediately consumed by anger.

"You!"

"It was clearly you who were being rude first!"

Qin Jianghe glared at Zhao Qiushan, immediately silencing him. Zhao Qiushan's temperament was indeed easily provoked.

He was also the perfect candidate to be incited.

He calmed his tone and smiled faintly, "In that case, it seems there was a misunderstanding."

"Centurion Li, have you come for that Shen Yi?"

"That Shen Yi once used the alias Chen Yu and did have dealings with my Broken Blade Hall a few days ago, but now that he's been exposed, he's already left."

Hearing this.

Li Wudang couldn't help but curse the Pacification Office's intelligence capabilities in his mind.

They were actually inferior to the small, unofficial forces in the jianghu. They even needed to obtain Shen Yi's whereabouts from the jianghu.

Hearing Qin Jianghe's explanation.

Li Wudang naturally wouldn't let it go so easily.

He suppressed his smile, "I've always heard that Hall Master Qin values ​​friendship and righteousness. The jianghu says that Shen Yi was kind to you. Could it be that you deliberately let him go?"

Qin Jianghe immediately waved his hand in denial, "It was Chen Yu who was kind to me."

"At that time, I had no idea he was a wanted criminal. Otherwise, how would I dare associate with such a villain?"

"Wouldn't that be going against the Pacification Office?"

Li Wudang narrowed his eyes, "So that's how it is."

"Then Hall Master Qin should know where Shen Yi went. Please send someone to come with me and capture the bandit."

Qin Jianghe pursed his lips, "I'm sorry, I have no idea."

Li Wudang laughed in anger, pointing his finger at Qin Jianghe, "Hall Master Qin, I think you harbor rebellious intentions and are deliberately opposing the Pacification Office!"

Clang!

Li Wudang drew his saber.

The Embroidered Spring Blade emitted a buzzing sound in Li Wudang's hand.

Before the blade moved, its momentum had already risen.

An extremely strong sense of oppression slowly emanated from him, mixed with the saber's momentum, and a crushing sharpness swept over him.

Qin Jianghe snorted coldly.

He stepped forward.

His broken saber pointed diagonally, and his qi suddenly surged.

Blocking Li Wudang's unparalleled sharpness outside his body.

"Centurion Li, what is the meaning of this?"

Li Wudang chuckled:

"I heard that Hall Master Qin's Broken Blade suppresses everyone in Clear River, and even the Chaotic Sky Yaksha died by your combined efforts with Shen Yi."

His tone suddenly turned cold:

"I've come to learn a thing or two! To see what ability you have to defy the Pacification Office's orders!"

Qin Jianghe stared coldly at Li Wudang:

"Centurion Li, you shouldn't make baseless accusations."

"My Broken Blade Hall has never disobeyed the Pacification Office."

"Humph!"

"Enough talk, let's see the real deal!"

Li Wudang darted out.

His figure was as fast as lightning, turning into a blur of shadow, almost exceeding the limit of Qin Jianghe's vision.

The Embroidered Spring Blade slashed down.

Like thunder falling from the nine heavens, whistling down.

Qin Jianghe's eyes suddenly widened, and his arm moved quickly:

"Good heavens!"

"What kind of monster is this now!"

After Shen Yi parted ways with the Broken Blade Hall.

He didn't travel along the river, but instead crossed the mountains, spending a day and a night to reach the other side of Mount Clear River.

This place was already outside the boundary of Dong Commandery.

He had arrived in the Jianghuai region.

In the mountains, he didn't starve himself; Qin Jianghe had brought some dry rations.

The deep forests had many tigers, leopards, jackals, and wolves.

He caught two wild rabbits and killed a wild boar.

He had two meals of meat.

He didn't take the rest, leaving it to the other carnivorous animals lurking in the forest.

In the evening, he gradually walked out of the deep mountains.

In the distance, wisps of smoke could be faintly seen in the sky.

It was a market town, with a clear stream flowing by like a jade belt, a beautiful sight from afar.

But he couldn't reach it today.

The sun was setting.

Soon, the long night would arrive.

The light in the forest was quickly swallowed by darkness.

It was pitch black.

Shen Yi wanted to find a big tree, jump onto its trunk, and spend the night there. He had slept like this in the deep mountains yesterday.

Suddenly.

A distant orange light caught his attention.

Someone's home?

Then it would be better to ask for a night's lodging than to sleep on a hard tree trunk.

Shen Yi approached the dim light.

Getting closer.

He found that an ancient temple stood where the lights were bright.

"Dragon Tree Temple."

From the outside, the temple looked simple and old, but it was clean, indicating that monks were practicing here.

Shen Yi came to the temple without hesitation.

He knocked on the door.

As the saying goes, monks save all living beings, accumulate virtue, and do good deeds. Surely, they wouldn't have a problem taking in a traveler passing by like him.

Shen Yi waited for a long time at the door.

The temple door creaked open, revealing a narrow gap.

A shiny bald head poked out from the crack in the door, glancing left and right, immediately spotting Shen Yi standing before it.

A handsome young man, clad in black garb, a thick-bladed black saber sheathed at his waist, his half-long hair casually tied back with a forehead band.

At first glance, he looked like someone who traveled the jianghu.

"This benefactor, we are already closed for the night."

"Please come back tomorrow to offer incense."

The monk looked quite old, but perhaps knowing that jianghu people were not to be trifled with, he spoke very kindly.

Shen Yi grinned:

"Master, I'm not here to offer incense."

"I'd like to ask for lodging."

The monk's eyes darted around, and he said in a flattering tone:

"I'm sorry, benefactor."

"There are no spare monks' quarters in the temple."

Having said that, the monk retreated, about to close the gate.

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow:

"Master, I'm willing to offer some incense money, and ask Buddha to take me in for the night."

The monk's movement to close the door stopped abruptly.

He subconsciously asked:

"How much?"

Shen Yi felt his money bag. He still had some of the broken silver he'd scrounged from the Pacification Office, and Qin Jianghe had also given him some travel money.

Enough to get by.

He immediately took out a piece of silver and shook it in the crack of the door:

"A piece of silver."

"Master, is that sincere enough?"

The monk immediately pushed open the mountain gate, leaping out and reaching for the silver in Shen Yi's hand.

"Hey?"

"Master, you haven't even let me in yet."

"You want to take the reward now?"

A glint of greed flashed in the monk's eyes, and then he opened one side of the mountain gate wide, ushering Shen Yi in diligently.

"Benefactor, please come in."

Shen Yi tossed the silver piece in his hand.

He said with a playful tone:

"Now there are monks' quarters available?"

The monk chuckled:

"I'm on night watch tonight, you can sleep in my room."

Shen Yi casually tossed the silver over, and the monk used both hands, scrambling to catch it and clutch it in his hands.

"Alright, Master, please lead the way."

"You got it."