Waiting for Someone

Emperor Yuanjing carefully put away the note and instructed, "Notify Wei Yuan to come to the palace to see me, but that's unnecessary."

Having just experienced the "ups and downs" of life, the old emperor pondered for a long time before saying, "Inform the Prince of Huai's spies to immediately proceed to Jianzhou to seize the Nine-Colored Lotus Seed. They can cooperate with the Earth Sect Daoists."

He paused, then added, "Bring as many Law Artifact as possible."

The old eunuch bowed and withdrew.

Jianzhou was located in the northwest of the Great Feng Dynasty, bordering Leizhou to the west and Jiangzhou to the north. At the same time, because two canals passed through Jianzhou, it was a prosperous and thriving place.

However, what Jianzhou is most famous for is its unique regional culture: the Martial Arts Alliance!

Throughout the dynasties, the attitude towards Jianghu organizations has been to recruit and suppress. Those who obey are recruited, and those who are disobedient are suppressed or exterminated. Only in this way can the rule of the dynasty and the peace of the world be maintained.

But there are always exceptions.

The martial arts alliance of Jianzhou is a Jianghu organization that, to a certain extent, can be fearless of the imperial court.

Jianzhou has a rich Martial Dao culture since ancient times, with numerous gangs, many of which are century-old establishments that have stood the test of time. All of these gangs are under the jurisdiction of the Martial Alliance.

However, these gangs are not enough to support the current status of the Martial Alliance. To trace its origins, we must look to historical records.

At the end of the Great Zhou, the people were living in misery, and heroes from all over the land rose up in rebellion, attempting to overthrow the tyranny. Before the Great Feng Emperor rose to power, he was just one of countless rebel forces.

They gathered several hundred soldiers, primarily to capture small county towns, and then recruited more troops.

At that time, several rebel armies had already matured and possessed powerful military strength to carve out their own territories. One of them came from Jianzhou.

The leader of this Jianzhou rebel army was a third-rank military officer who rose to prominence during a time of war, conquering far and wide without ever suffering a defeat.

Later, the founding emperor of the Great Feng Dynasty rose to power and became one of the main forces to overthrow the tyranny. After the Great Zhou was destroyed, various righteous armies vied for control of the Central Plains. The old court had already been overthrown. In order to avoid further bloodshed, the third-rank warrior from Jianzhou challenged the Great Feng Emperor.

Using their respective armies as bargaining chips, they engage in a battle of wits between warriors.

Needless to say, the third-rank martial artist from Jianzhou lost. As agreed, he handed over his army to the Great Feng Emperor, took only his core subordinates, returned to Jianzhou, and established the Martial Alliance.

That third-rank martial artist has been extinct for hundreds of years, but the Martial Alliance has always claimed that he is still alive, and this is the true source of the Martial Alliance's confidence.

"So the Martial Arts Alliance was originally a righteous army."

By candlelight, at the table, Xu Qi'an Nightwatchers the file that the night watchman had brought out of the archives. He felt there was a loophole that could not be ignored.

"According to the records, the founder of the Martial Alliance, a third-rank master, lost to the Great Feng Emperor. But the Emperor has long since passed away, so why is he still alive?"

It doesn't make sense that a stronger master would die while a weaker one is still alive. We're all martial artists, equally crude; why should you live for hundreds of years?

Following this line of thought, he suddenly discovered a detail he had previously overlooked: Emperor Wuzong, who usurped the throne under the pretext of purging corrupt officials, was a ruthless and powerful figure at the pinnacle of Martial Dao.

However, he died peacefully a hundred years later.

"Judging from the cases of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Wuzong of the Great Feng Dynasty, it seems that military men cannot live long lives? But if that's the case, how did that commoner from Jianzhou live for hundreds of years?"

"Is the Martial Alliance bluffing and deceiving the world? Impossible. If it were a lie, it could only fool ordinary people, not the imperial court. But the imperial court's tacit approval of the Martial Alliance indicates some apprehension. That former rebel leader might actually still be alive."

"Then, the problem lies with the Great Feng royal family? What is the reason that the high-ranking martial artists of the Great Feng royal family cannot achieve immortality?"

Unable to figure it out, Xu Qi'an turned to Zhong Li, who was sitting cross-legged on the soft couch, and asked, "Senior Sister Zhong, I suddenly thought of a question."

Zhong Li turned her disheveled head around, her eyes hidden in the messy hair, and stared at him.

How did the Great Feng Dynasty die?

"They died of old age slowly."

"..." Xu Qi'an choked for a moment, then quickly added, "But, is the lifespan of a peak martial artist the same as that of an ordinary person?"

"I... I'm not a martial artist, I don't know," Zhong Li said softly, feeling guilty that she couldn't answer Xu Qi'an's question.

Oh well, never mind, it's not an urgent matter that I absolutely need an answer for anyway. Xu Qi'an blew out the candles, took off his shoes, climbed into bed, and teased with a smile:

"Come sleep with me?"

Senior Sister Zhong was still a virgin, so she ignored him.

Jianzhou.

According to the Records of Geography of Kyushu, there is a mountain in Jianzhou, inhabited by a beast with a human face, animal body, and six tails, capable of swallowing the moon, named "Quanrong".

Quanrong Mountain is the headquarters of the Martial Arts Alliance.

The enchanting Rongrong, along with her master and the sect leader, arrived at Quanrong Mountain by carriage, a sacred mountain in the hearts of the martial arts people of Jianzhou.

The owner of the Wan Hua Lou (Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion) brought more than a dozen experts who came in response to the summons.

The brothel, Wan Hua Lou, is predominantly female, each woman possessing stunning beauty and alluring charm. Those with the best aptitude are kept as direct disciples, while those with less talent are married off to other women.

For over a century, most of the top-ranking gangs in Jianzhou have had some degree of kinship or marriage ties with Wan Hua Lou.

"This time, your master is taking you out to broaden your horizons. Remember not to be reckless; just be an observer," the beautiful woman instructed her disciple.

Even among a group of beauties, Rongrong, who stood out from the crowd, nodded first, then said somewhat Qi Ingestion, "Master, I'm already at the sixth rank."

A sixth-rank martial artist with copper skin and iron bones is considered a pillar of the martial arts world, respected wherever he goes. Only in Martial Dao holy land like Jianzhou does he seem ordinary and unremarkable.

The beautiful woman shook her head. "Sixth rank is not enough. In the upcoming events, I'm afraid only those of fifth rank or above can participate. Those below fifth rank are likely just pawns sent to their deaths."

Rongrong, the enchanting hand, felt a chill run down her spine and whispered, "Master, what exactly happened?"

As they spoke, the carriage stopped at the foot of Quanrong Mountain. The women of Wanhualou jumped down from the carriage and looked around.

Mount Quanrong is shrouded in mist and clouds, with steep peaks, craggy rocks, dense forests, ancient trees, and pavilions and courtyards nestled among them.

Passing through the white marble archway at the foot of the mountain, Rongrong lifted her skirt and climbed the steps, hearing her master whisper, "You know about the Earth Sect, right?"

Rongrong nodded.

The three major sects of Daoist School are known as the "great immortal sects" in the martial arts world, the most powerful forces in the Nine Provinces, and the leaders of the three sects are figures that even the imperial court has to be wary of.

"According to the poster, there is a group of Daoists from the Earth Sect who cultivated a rare treasure called the Nine-Colored Lotus in Jianzhou. Not long ago, the treasure matured and radiant light soared into the sky. Alliance Leader Cao came to ask for the lotus root, but was refused and fought with the Daoists from the Earth Sect."

"Afterwards, the Martial Alliance summoned all the major sects, intending to encircle and annihilate that group of Daoist priests."

Rongrong was taken aback. "What is Alliance Leader Cao doing? Even if the Martial Alliance is at its peak, it absolutely cannot afford to offend the Daoist School sects."

The beautiful woman nodded worriedly, then shook her head. "Alliance Leader Cao is a man of great talent and vision. He must have a reason for daring to do this, we just don't know it."

Just then, Rongrong heard the soft yet cool voice of the person leading the way say, "Silence."

The master and apprentice fell silent. Rongrong looked up at the tower master's retreating figure.

The women of Wan Hua Lou dressed rather revealingly, and since it was the height of summer, they were dressed quite lightly. From Rongrong's angle, one could clearly see the brothel owner's round and full buttocks, above which was a ribbon tied around her slender waist; and the smooth and graceful curve of her back.

The owner of the brothel often wore a veil over her face, with only a pair of alluring, fox-like eyes and a curvaceous figure, earning her the reputation of being the "Queen of Flowers" in the brothel, demonstrating her undeniable charm.

Soon, they reached the top of the mountain. Led by the alliance's steward, they entered the courtyard. The owner of Wan Hua Lou walked through the courtyard and into the council hall, while the rest remained outside.

Rongrong glanced around discreetly and saw many familiar faces standing in the courtyard.

The disciples of the Ink Pavilion, each carrying a sword, included Young Master Liu and his master.

The people in blue are from the Divine Fist Gang. This gang's punches are very methodical, and they have recently taken in many flamboyant female disciples.

Those dressed in gold and red are from the Thousand Machines Sect, skilled in using various hidden weapons and poisons, and their methods are unpredictable and difficult to deal with.

The one shrouded in black robes is from the Flying Knife Sect. Flying knives are both hidden weapons and not hidden weapons. It is said that the sect leader of the Flying Knife Sect can control 108 flying knives.

During the attack, they fought with righteous indignation, which was quite remarkable.

Rongrong silently withdrew her gaze. There were as many as eighteen martial arts organizations present. Those who responded to the call of the Martial Alliance and came to join forces were all masters, and there were definitely no lackeys.

"The Alliance Leader is determined to obtain that nine-colored lotus," Rongrong thought to herself.

Time passed by, and after more than an hour, the owner of the Wan Hua Lou (Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion) came out first, followed by the other sect leaders and gang leaders.

Through the open doors of the council chamber, Rongrong saw a tall, robust middle-aged man sitting on a high chair inside. He was wearing a purple robe embroidered with layers of cloud patterns in gold thread.

She didn't dare look at the man's face, quickly lowered her head, and followed the building owner and her fellow disciples out of the courtyard.

Upon arriving at the residence of Wan Hua Lou, the owner summoned several elders, including the beautiful woman, to the house to discuss matters.

As dusk fell, the beautiful woman returned. Rongrong immediately pulled her master back to their room, closed the doors and windows, and pressed her for an answer, "Master, what exactly happened?"

The beautiful woman pondered for a long time before slowly saying:

"The matter is clear now. The group of Earth Sect Daoists lurking in Jianzhou are traitors to the Earth Sect. They stole the Nine-Colored Lotus and hid under the 'protection' of the Martial Alliance to evade the Earth Sect's pursuit."

"Not long ago, the treasure matured and strange phenomena appeared. The leader of the Earth Sect came after them, but because he was wary of the Martial Alliance, he reached an agreement with Alliance Leader Cao. The two sides would jointly besiege the traitor of the Earth Sect, and the reward would be a section of lotus root."

"Alliance Leader Cao promised the Lord and the others that when the Nine-Colored Lotus matures, all participants will receive lotus seeds. Hehe, you may not know, but these lotus seeds are rare treasures that can enlighten all things; even ordinary iron can give birth to a spirit."

"Of course, lotus seeds mature only once every sixty years, a very long cycle, and Chief Cao also promised other benefits."

Rongrong pursed her lips, a hint of longing flickering in her eyes.

Such a treasure would be desired and coveted by anyone.

She immediately frowned. "If that's the case, why did Chief Cao summon us? With the power of the Quanrong Mountain Martial Alliance, and in conjunction with the Earth Sect, it wouldn't be difficult for them to wipe out that group of rogue Daoists, would it?"

The beautiful woman nodded approvingly. "That group of Daoists who betrayed the sect is naturally nothing to worry about; they can be wiped out with a flick of the wrist. What Alliance Leader Cao should really be wary of is the Earth Sect's untrustworthiness."

Rongrong suddenly realized.

On the other side, in the room of the Moge residence where they were resting.

Young Master Liu exclaimed in delight, "Are those lotus seeds really that miraculous?"

Young Master Liu's master, wiping his beloved longsword, nodded and said:

"Of course, the supreme treasure of the Daoist School sect is beyond description. If I could obtain a lotus seed, I would use it to refine this sword."

Young Master Liu's gaze immediately fell on the Law Artifact that originally belonged to him. He swallowed hard and nodded vigorously. "The lotus seeds will not mature for another sixty years. Master, don't worry, I will take good care of them."

"In the future, it will be an unparalleled divine weapon passed down through generations of our lineage."

Master Liu didn't refute, but nodded slightly and smiled, "I heard from the Pavilion Master that the group of Daoists who defected from the Earth Sect aren't very strong, but we can't be complacent. You shouldn't participate this time; just observe from the sidelines."

Young Master Liu nodded vigorously.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and the local government of Jianzhou was astonished to find that many martial arts practitioners had come to Jianzhou during this period.

They gathered in inns, restaurants, and brothels, spreading the news that a rare treasure would be born in Jianzhou.

The prefect of Jianzhou belatedly realized the seriousness of the matter. What the government disliked most was the gathering of martial arts figures, which easily caused trouble.

They immediately mobilized troops from the garrisons to strengthen defenses and keep them on standby outside the city at all times.

They then sent people to gather intelligence and quite easily learned the location of the extraordinary treasure's appearance: a mountain villa on the outskirts of Jianzhou City.

The Jianzhou government was relieved. As long as the fighting didn't take place within the city, they couldn't be bothered to interfere with the life-and-death struggles among the martial arts practitioners.

Inside the mountain villa, Daoist Jinlian stood atop the pavilion, gazing at the distant mountain path.

The fair-skinned and beautiful Bai Lian climbed up to the pavilion and stood beside him, saying helplessly, "Just now, another group of martial artists got caught in the maze and were knocked unconscious and tied up by our disciples."

"Over this period, we have captured dozens of martial arts practitioners. These people do not deserve to die, and to kill them would be to slaughter innocent people. But keeping them alive would also be a threat. What should we do?"

Master Jinlian sighed, "This was Black Lotus deliberately spreading rumors."

If it were any other force or organization in this situation, they would certainly not hesitate to make an example of them to deter others and scare away troublemakers.

But Master Jinlian and his companions could not do that, because the Earth Sect cultivates merit and cannot kill without cause, otherwise they would develop inner demons and fall into the demonic path.

"Black Lotus knew this, which is why she spread the word and attracted so many martial arts practitioners." White Lotus raised her delicate hand, tucked her black hair behind her ear, and sighed helplessly.

Master Jinlian smiled calmly, as if everything was already under control, and said leisurely, "No rush. We're waiting for one guy. If he arrives, eighty percent of those rabble will retreat."

P. S.: Respectfully submitted by the author of this Great Feng- delayed update, I'm so ashamed!! Please remember to correct any typos, thank you.