Joining the Flower Cage Sect, Tigers and Wolves Arrive Together? Fate Runs Deep, Feeding a Beauty

The river rippled gently in the warm spring sunshine. Amidst the surging waves, Li Xian had mistakenly boarded a pirate ship and was surrounded by a group of enemies. These enemies were numerous and powerful, possessing mastery of formations and tactics, and were watching him with predatory eyes.

turn out to be...

Li Xian leaped across the riverbed, but the river's course was complex, winding and twisting with numerous branches and forks. Unbeknownst to him, he entered a tributary of the Jade-Water River, swept along by its currents, sometimes heading north, sometimes west...

In the midst of the twists and turns, they unexpectedly encountered the "Flower Cage Sect" pirate ship. It is said that there was a group of the Flower Cage Sect pirates between Ridge Prefecture and Southern King City.

He waited to capture the "Southern King Palace's niece," and the Southern King Palace held a heroes' banquet, calling on righteous people from Jianghu to help capture her. The event was a grand affair, aimed at eliminating the Flower Thief. However, the Flower Cage Sect was extremely adept at escaping, and even the most elaborate net could be found with gaps, allowing some to slip through.

They disguised themselves as "merchants" and sailed on the river. The leader was named "Ye Cheng," a middle-aged man with a handsome appearance and refined demeanor, but his methods were very decisive.

He led his group of the Flower Cage Sect disciples safely across the river. Seeing that the crisis was over, he suddenly saw Li Xian appear. Without saying a word, he ordered his execution.

Li Xian was quick-witted. In the instant he was surrounded, his mind raced. He first heard them talking about "captain" and "whereabouts"... and so on. He deduced that they must be fugitives.

Moreover, the number of people was large, and the pursuit would inevitably be very intense. Li Xian recalled the escape route and immediately thought of the "Hero Banquet at the Southern King Palace". He began to suspect that the people on the boat came from the Flower Cage Sect.

However, based on this alone, how could one draw a conclusion? The world of Jianghu is vast and ever-changing. Li Xian observed his surroundings again and vaguely saw that the disciples' formation had the subtlety of the "Eight Trigrams," which subtly corresponded to the "Intestinal Coiling Step."

The guess became more certain. At this moment, the bandits of the Flower Cage Sect attacked and killed. Li Xian had no choice but to gamble; if all else failed, he would have to break off all ties and find another way to survive.

Upon hearing this, the bandits' expressions turned suspicious, but their killing intent ceased immediately. They simply circled around him. This encirclement consisted of seventeen people, their footsteps disordered yet orderly, the sound of their footsteps frequent.

It vaguely had the effect of confusing the mind. Li Xian saw their figures moving around, and double images appeared before his eyes, one becoming three, three becoming ten, ten becoming a hundred... In a hazy state, it was as if he was surrounded by hundreds or thousands of people. Those with less courage would surely surrender without resistance upon seeing this, fearing they would die under a hail of blows.

This is the "Blossoms in Full Splendor Formation," which has the power to "Scattering Blossoms Dazzle the Eyes" and "Blossoms Bewilder the Heart." The Flower Cage Sect can use this formation to capture female warriors, even if they are ordinary disciples, by secretly spreading poison and setting up the formation.

Li Xian also felt the chaos. He secretly played the "Self-Guarding Tone" to guard his mind and remain steadfast.

Ye Cheng his hands behind his back and said, "Oh? You say you're a disciple of the Flower Cage Sect, but do you have any proof? What's your name?"

Li Xian said, "My surname is Hua, and my given name is Wu Cuo."

He wanted to use a pseudonym. But in his haste, he didn't bother to think of a surname, so he used "Hua" instead. However, if he were to choose "Manlou" as his given name, he feared that it would be traced back to him and cause trouble, so he blurted out "Wu Cuo".

"Hua Wucuo." Ye Cheng pondered carefully, then clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Hua Wucuo, Hua Wucuo... Good! What's wrong with our Flower Cage Sect? Hahaha!"

The thieves all burst into laughter, their hostility towards Li Xian diminishing considerably. Ye Cheng then asked, "How can I be sure you're not the head constable?"

Li Xian said, "I have always been sworn enemies with the head constable. To be honest... I was being chased and fled to the river in a sorry state, which is how I met you brothers."

"Brothers, consider this: how formidable are the escape techniques of our Flower Cage Sect? If I were a mere shopkeeper, could I truly find them? Even a divine constable would find it difficult, wouldn't he?"

"If I were the head constable, wouldn't I be courting death if I boarded the boat alone?"

Ye Cheng nodded and said, "While this makes sense, it only proves that you are not the head constable. However... it still doesn't prove that you are a member of my Flower Cage Sect."

"I'll give you another chance. Try to prove yourself. If you can't prove yourself, even if there's a possibility of mistaken identity, I won't let you off the hook."

Li Xian said, "Please look at the token." He took out the "Flower Cage Sect" token from his chest. This item came from the hands of "Gu Shuntong," a disciple of the Flower Cage Sect.

In the past... Li Xian was Martial Commandant, enjoying immense prestige. Lin Aoshang, the young matriarch of the Qiongtian Lin Clan, invited him to eliminate the Flower Cage gang in order to gain merit.

Among them was a disciple of the Flower Cage Sect, who possessed exceptional talent and the [Snake Bone Phase]. Li Xian killed him, touched his remains, and obtained items such as the "Heavenly Thunder Finger" and the "Flower Cage Token".

He had always carried it with him, and now it had come in handy. Ye Cheng and inhaled, holding the Flower Cage Token in his palm. He examined it closely and confirmed that it was indeed genuine.

He tossed it back and said calmly, "Although you Token-Bearing, it's difficult to prove your legitimacy. Have you ever practiced our sect's martial arts?"

Li Xian cupped his hands and said, "This disciple Initiation when I was hunted down. Before I could learn anything, I was separated from the others. I barely escaped with my life and boarded this merchant ship. If even the token cannot prove my worth, then... I have nothing more to say."

He used a strategy of retreat as a means of advancement.

The disciples of the Flower Cage Sect nodded secretly. Since joining the Flower Cage Sect, enduring wind and rain, sleeping in the open, and being hunted and besieged had become commonplace. The situation described by Li Xian was something that all the bandits had experienced to varying degrees.

Ye Cheng was still unsure whether Li Xian was genuine or not. However, observing the expressions of the disciples, he couldn't help but think, "This boy may not be a disciple of my Flower Cage Sect, but he's probably not the head constable. His words just now resonated with the disciples. If I kill him now, they will inevitably speculate... If he seeks help from his fellow disciples later, will he be killed on the spot because he can't prove his innocence?"

"Since he is neither a constable nor is he being hunted, this should be true. In this situation, it wouldn't be unreasonable to give him some leeway."

He said loudly, "Very well, although you possess the token, your Initiation is still superficial. I will take the token back; you are now considered a half -Registered Disciple. Qiao Sanyan, take him to his lodgings, change his clothes, and get some rest."

Qiao Sanyan replied, "Yes!" He was tall and had a strong voice. He gave Li Xian a kind smile.

Li Xian calmly returned the greeting, inwardly thinking, "These thieves are quite particular." At least he was somewhat settled. As soon as the boat docked, he immediately fled. He Second Martial Realm, and he sank as soon as he entered the water. His agility was far inferior to that of the First Realm martial artist.

Qiao Sanyan laughed and said, "Brother Hua, it's common for us disciples of the Flower Cage Sect to be hunted down. There's no need to be sad."

Li Xian said, "I have recovered. Heaven has been kind to me, allowing me to meet you all." Qiao Sanyan heartily, patted Li Xian on the shoulder, and said, "Indeed, you survived a great calamity; you are sure to have good fortune in the future. Don't think too much about it."

As they talked, they arrived at a cabin on a boat. The door was low, and the oil lamp flickered. The mottled wooden walls were covered in mold, making it extremely damp and stuffy.

Li Xian was tall and had to stoop to enter the room. Inside was a wooden bed and a wooden table. As the river lapped against the boat, the bed and table creaked and groaned.

Li Xian tried lying on the bed. He had to curl up, as the bed was very sturdy, no different from sleeping on the floor.

Qiao Sanyan and said, "This is the treatment for Registered Disciple. Once you become Token-Bearing Disciple, you can move into a main room."

Li Xian said, "Senior Brother Qiao, I was hunted down as soon as I entered the Flower Cage Sect. I haven't had time to learn about the sect's rules yet. Could you please tell me?"

Qiao Sanyan said, "Of course, of course. Hmm... Brother Hua... you seem quite handsome." He used the candlelight to illuminate Li Xian's face.

Li Xian was soaking wet, her hair disheveled, making it difficult to see her face. Now that she was out of danger, she swept her long hair back, revealing her features. Qiao Sanyan gradually noticed her.

Li Xian said, "Just a physical appearance." Qiao Sanyan in amazement and said, "Our Flower Cage Sect... speaking of which, it truly is a super sect renowned throughout the Great Wu!"

Li Xian thought, "I'm afraid he's infamous." Qiao Sanyan said, "Look at the disciples of ordinary sects, who isn't from a prestigious family? Ordinary poor children can hardly Essence Consumption Realm in their entire lives. It's not that they lack ability, but that they have no way to do so."

"Our Flower Cage Sect upholds the principle of education for all. Those who enter our sect are regardless of their background or social status. We are of humble origin, and the only way for us to advance our careers is through this path. Therefore... Brother Flower, you should cherish this opportunity."

Li Xian, despite his frail health, had diligently pursued the Martial Dao, enduring countless hardships and dangers, and thus somewhat agreed with this statement. While the Flower Cage Sect was indeed shameful, ordinary Clay Embryo seeking advancement rarely had the means. Although this path was crooked and deviant, it was still a "path."

Qiao Sanyan continued, "I know you've just joined the Flower Cage Sect. You know what we do and you dislike it. But I'll tell you a secret, and you'll understand... In this Jianghu, there's no such thing as good or evil."

Li Xian asked curiously, "Senior Brother Qiao, please speak."

Qiao Sanyan sat on the bed, gently patting Li Xian's shoulder. The cramped room barely accommodated the two of them. He said, "Do you know why my Flower Cage Sect, despite being repeatedly besieged, always manages to escape? It's certainly because we are extremely skilled at escaping. But... there's another reason."

"Sometimes, those who commission us will openly issue warrants for our arrest. Their pursuit may seem relentless, but they deliberately leave loopholes. We always manage to slip through, and the Flower Cage Sect ' (a metaphor for a place where illegal activities continue unabated) is constantly being opened."

"Reputable families, dignified and righteous, yet utterly disgusting. We, of humble origins, are born petty. So be it, what does it matter if we pee!"

Li Xian said, "Senior Brother Qiao is right." He thought to himself, "The Jianghu is like this great river; it appears beautiful on the surface, but is actually filled with silt. Stir it up, and the water becomes muddy... How can one distinguish between good and bad, clear and murky water? All I can do is uphold my principles and forge ahead."

"If you're talking about a good person... I'm afraid I wouldn't call myself one."

Qiao Sanyan said, "Junior Brother Hua, you probably don't know the details of my Flower Cage Sect. Let me tell you, and you must remember them well."

He immediately explained the sect rules, order, and hierarchy in detail... Li Xian knew he wouldn't stay here long, but he pretended to be polite and took notes carefully.

Flower Cage Sect are classified into Grade-Four: "Miscellaneous," "Registered," "token," and "Flower-Sealed."

Li Xian was only a "Registered, a very low rank. Qiao Sanyan said, "Junior Brother Hua, don't worry. Just perform well, and you'll soon be recorded in the roster and become Registered Disciple. As for becoming a token disciple, that's not difficult either. But becoming a ' Flower-Sealed ' disciple is a bit more difficult."

The two chatted for a while, then Qiao Sanyan, having other business to attend to, took his leave. Two maids came and brought some clothes for her to change into. Li Xian smiled and said, "Thank you!" and took the clothes.

The maidservants stood guard on either side of the door.

Li Xian closed the door. He gently patted the clothes; they were ordinary cloth garments, made of rather rough materials, with little to no craftsmanship. To be on the safe side, fearing the clothes might contain poison, he Three Flowers Converging at the Crown, opened his mouth, and spat them out.

The air was fresh and clean, and the clothes were brand new. After confirming there were no poisonous devices, I changed into them. I then tidied up all the miscellaneous items around me.

Li Xian calmed himself, looked around, and pondered his current situation. Wen Caishang was seeking revenge in the distance, while he was trapped in the Flower Cage Sect. The situation was extremely bad.

The boathouse had no windows, Li Xian opened his Double Pupils and peered through the wooden wall at the surging river. He vaguely knew that the pleasure boat had set sail again.

"If the time is right, I will once again escape by diving into the river and leave this ship. But this must not be rushed, and it must be done discreetly. Otherwise, if the skilled men on board jump into the river to capture me, it will be very difficult for me to escape."

Li Xian frowned, staring at the swaying oil lamp. Half an hour passed, Li Xian pushed open the door, intending to use the excuse of going out for fresh air and rest, and then choose a better opportunity to escape.

The two maids stretched out their hands to block them, saying in unison, "Go back. Elder Ye has ordered that you are not allowed to go out."

Li Xian said, "Why are the other disciples..." A maidservant replied, "Although you have a token, you don't understand our sect's Martial Dao. This is suspicious, Elder Ye doesn't entirely trust you."

Li Xian remained silent. This matter was rushed; even with his silver tongue, he could hardly explain it coherently. There were bound to be many loopholes. Ye Cheng, being very cautious, naturally didn't believe him.

Close the door.

Knowing that fear was futile, Li Xian silently recited the "Self-Guarding Tone," letting it linger in his mind, calming his breath and extinguishing his desires. He sat cross-legged, Five Organs Turbidity Circulation internal organs, internally practicing the "Five Organs Purge-Turbidity Revive-Yang Scripture."

[Your Five Organs Turbidity Circulation Proficiency by 1.]

[The Five Viscera Turbidity-Avoidance and Meet Yang Classic]

[Proficiency: 656/800 (Initiation)]

Li Xian, by nature carefree, was now completely at peace. His spirit soared, roaming freely across the heavens and earth. Gazing at the green mountains and the river, he felt utterly relaxed.

Another hour passed.

The Proficiency the Five Organs Purge-Turbidity Revive-Yang Scripture has accumulated to [668], showing significant progress, with abundant blood and vigorous Qi. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

A maidservant said, "Hua Wucuo, Elder Ye wants to see you."

Li Xian frowned, but remained calm. She pushed open the door and said, "Please lead the way." Two maids, one in front and one behind, led the way.

Li Xian secretly became wary, guarding against any trouble from the two maids. He observed them closely and noticed that the two women moved in unison and their breathing was similar, indicating that they must have both practiced some kind of martial art.

The merchant ship was very large, with four decks. Li Xian was on the first deck. After turning a narrow bend, he saw the ordinary disciples' quarters.

A row of rooms stretched out, a dozen or so on the left and a dozen or so on the right... each room housed two people. The spaces were relatively spacious. The doors were all open, and the stench of tobacco, feet, armpits, and excrement wafted out.

Mixed with the unique salty, damp, and fishy stench of the river, Li Xian peered into the room and saw several people gathered around, playing dominoes, dice games, and various other forms of gambling and entertainment.

It's incredibly noisy.

Suddenly a shout was heard. Several people playing dominoes cursed and yelled angrily. Someone cheated, and a verbal argument broke out. They started punching and kicking each other and began to fight.

Li Xian sighed, "How could a sect with such a prestigious reputation have disciples like this?"

As they reached a flight of stairs, a maidservant behind Li Xian nudged his shoulder and said, "Hurry up." Li Xian frowned and climbed the stairs.

A faint incense scent filled the air on the second floor. The environment was several times better, and there were very few people around; all the doors were closed. The maidservant in front of me said, "Be careful. These are all Token-Bearing Disciple. If you disturb their practice, they may kill you."

Li Xian said, "Alright then." She tiptoed and looked around. The second-floor corridor was spacious, with jade porcelain and other items placed in the corners, already showing elegance.

He wanted to take this opportunity to familiarize himself with the layout of the ship. If things became extremely dangerous, his only option was to jump into the river and escape, fighting to the death. However, the ship's corridors were winding and labyrinthine, much like the Winding Gut Passage that led to the tomb of Lü Dongzhi " in the Tomb-Hoard Mountain.

Wandering aimlessly will surely lead to getting lost, or even walking into a trap.

Li Xian was secretly on guard, knowing that this ship contained a hidden world. Soon he went up to the third floor. There was only one residence here, which was extremely luxurious, like a mansion. Flowers, trees and shrubs were planted, and there was a pond with golden carp.

Ye Cheng was being served by women. They massaged his shoulders and legs, loosened his waist and pressed his head, fed him fruit and played the zither... not a single part of his body was at peace.

The second maid knelt on both knees and respectfully said, "Master, the person has been brought."

Ye Cheng looked up. The women immediately stopped what they were doing and helped him put on his clothes. They then skillfully stepped aside. Ye Cheng said, "Hua Wucuo... come in."

A faint fragrance wafted from within. Ye Cheng, scrutinizing the young man, and was quite surprised, not expecting him to be so handsome.

Li Xian cupped his hands and said, "Elder!" Ye Cheng said, "I'm too lazy to dwell on the past. I can see that you Non-Self Flower Cage Sect."

Li Xian calmly asked, "Then why does Elder Ye..." Ye Cheng replied, "I can see that you are being chased. Let me ask you, I'm giving you a chance now: join my Flower Cage Sect, will you or will you?"

Li Xian has always despised the Flower Cage Sect's activities and would always kill any Flower Cage Sect thieves he encountered. However, fate has played a cruel trick on him, and he is now faced with an enormous dilemma.

Ye Cheng said, "If you Initiation, your Registered will be recorded. If you don't..." He remained silent.

However, the women who had served him earlier were all secretly channeling their inner energy. If Li Xian dared to shake his head, they would launch a series of attacks. Li Xian had experienced the Flower Cage Sect's "formation" and knew that although this sect was wicked, its martial arts were very profound. This formation of women was definitely stronger than the previous Blossoms in Full Splendor Formation.

He considered himself to be quite capable. However, he was unsure of his opponent's abilities. Moreover, Ye Cheng was undoubtedly extremely powerful, and if they were to fight head-on, his chances of survival would be slim.

Li Xian thought to himself, "I'll pretend to register first, then find a way to escape." He replied, "You're just asking for it, of course you should register."

A maid in a colorful skirt took out a register. It was made by "Bizhu" and was very short and thin. She engraved the three characters "Hua Wucuo" on the bamboo register.

She then whistled softly, and a colorful dove flew into her hand. She tied the bamboo book to the dove's claw, held it to the window with both hands, and released it.

Ye Cheng nodded and said, "Actually... whether you join the Flower Cage Sect or not makes no difference to me. But I find you pleasing to the eye and have a feeling that you can achieve something and make a name for yourself."

I wouldn't mind giving him a hand.

A maidservant said, "Why don't you thank your master?"

Ye Cheng snapped, "Shut up! What are you doing, woman, interrupting when a man is speaking?"

The maid said, "Yes, yes, it's this lowly servant's fault." She immediately knelt down, her whole body trembling.

Ye Cheng laughed and said, "Hua Wucuo, perform well. If you achieve something in the future, you may choose one of my many maids to take with you."

Li Xian said, "Thank you for your kindness, Elder." Ye Cheng said, "You said you were being chased, but now that you're on my pleasure boat, that person probably won't be able to catch you."

Li Xian asked, "Why?"

Ye Cheng laughed and said, "My pleasure boat is unremarkable on the outside, resembling a merchant's boat, but it contains profound mysteries and involves the miscellaneous arts of feng shui. Alas, you certainly wouldn't understand if I told you all this, it's useless to explain, useless to explain. You should go back to your place."

"Tomorrow at the hour of Yin or Mao, you must gather on the deck. Now that you have entered my Flower Cage Sect, you must obtain the necessary techniques. You will first follow him and practice for three days."

Ye Cheng laughed and said, "Judging from your footwork, you must have some martial arts skills. Well, I'm too lazy to investigate the past. Almost all the disciples on this ship brought their masters with them. Our Flower Cage Sect teaches without discrimination; whether one can climb the ranks depends entirely on their own abilities."

" Within our Flower Cage Sect, there is no shortage of exceptional talents who have risen from poverty to achieve great things. Here, as long as you are diligent and hardworking, anything is possible."

"You may go now."

Li Xian replied, "Yes!"

Two maids led the way back to his room. Li Xian composed himself and assessed his situation. He was in the midst of two great dangers: Wen Caishang and the Flower Cage Sect.

If he were to escape at this point, two major dangers would befall him simultaneously, putting him in a perilous situation as he would be pursued by Su Qiuwu and others. If he remained on the ship, he would already be on the wanted list, Ye Cheng might not be able to harm him.

Moreover, Ye Cheng said... this ship contains a secret, which can help us escape pursuit. Wen Caishang is incredibly capable, and the secret within the ship may not be able to hinder her. Whether she can find it is truly uncertain.

But... Li Xian thought to himself, even if he fled alone, it would be slower than taking a boat. Considering the pros and cons... staying on the boat and Flower Cage Sect was indeed the best choice.

Li Xian was on the verge of tears. "I originally wanted to join the Mount Yue Sword Sect, a prestigious and righteous sect, where I could be dashing and respected. How did things turn out so differently, and I ended up becoming a disciple of the Flower Cage Sect?"

"So be it... As long as I stick to my principles. No matter where I am, I am just me. With a calm and focused mind, every path will be smooth."

Without overthinking, Turbidity Transport, nourishes the blood, and strengthens the body.

[You Turbidity Transport, Proficiency +1]

Before long, it was the Yin Hour). There was a commotion on the ship. The disciples dressed and gathered on the deck. Li Xian also followed the crowd and stood in a corner.

The pleasure boat needed to be disguised during the day. There was nowhere for everyone to practice martial arts, so they waited until nightfall before coming out onto the deck to practice.

Qiao Sanyan said, "Junior Brother Hua, you've just joined the Registered, so I'll teach you the ' Coiled-Gut Small Step ' first. Remember it well."

He then practiced the "Intestinal Coiling Step" several times. It wasn't a martial art, but rather a way of walking. Through physical expression, it made people feel as if he was walking to the right when he was walking to the left.

Use it flexibly.

Hidden in the Densewood Forest, obscured by vegetation, he darted left and right, east and west... Anyone who was momentarily distracted would find it impossible to track his movements.

Li Xian practiced according to the instructions. He was very intelligent and quickly grasped the essentials. His steps were extremely chaotic, even stronger than many of the older disciples.

He mastered the techniques and applied them flexibly. He even incorporated his understanding of "Four Directions Fist," making his Intestinal Coiling Step even more bewildering. This place was the deck of a ship, open and unobstructed.

Outsiders couldn't see anything amiss.

However, if this were in Densewood Forest, Li Xian's escape would be enough to knock out anyone nearby. Qiao Sanyan curiously, "Brother Hua, have you learned the Intestinal Coiling Step)?"

Li Xian said, "Someone taught me, but I didn't have time to practice it."

Qiao Sanyan exclaimed in admiration, "Then you are truly remarkable! The Intestinal Coiling Step) technique is neither particularly difficult nor easy. Yet some people spend their entire lives trying to learn it, while others Proficiency in an instant."

Li Xian said, "Senior Brother Qiao, are there any other martial arts techniques you can teach me?" Since he had decided to stay on the ship for the time being, he was determined to learn as much Martial Dao as possible.

Even Basic Martial Arts are precious. Qiao Sanyan hesitated, "This... this is probably inappropriate. Even Basic Martial Arts require..."

Ye Cheng said, "It's alright, let's make an exception and teach him one skill first."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Sanyan immediately taught Li Xian the "Flying Snake Hand." Although it was Basic Martial Arts, Li Xian still practiced diligently on the deck for two hours.

[Flying Snake Hand]

[Proficiency: 369/500 (Initiation)]

Just after dawn, the disciples returned to their cabins, and the pleasure boat sailed quietly.

Early morning.

The river was shrouded in mist. On the first floor, a stove was being lit to cook dishes, all ordinary fare: boiled beans, pumpkin soup, shredded pork with cauliflower... Li Xian held a wooden bowl, simply content with his empty stomach, asking for nothing more.

"Um... new guy, have you finished eating?"

The Token-Bearing Disciple, Wang Zekai, greeted him.

Li Xian said, "That's right."

Wang Zekai said, "Alright... You're quite handsome. Take these two portions of soup and feed them to those two women."

"Don't blame me for not warning you. Those two women are beautiful, but don't get lustful. Although they can't move, hehe, they have very fierce tempers. If you get your ear bitten off, hehe, you'll have to consider yourself unlucky."

"If you can get them to take a bite, then you'll be considered impressive, and I'll reward you with one tael of silver."