While on Mount Hua, my mind is at peace!

Chapter 6 Fighting the Qingcheng Sect

Zhang San took a sip of wine and said slowly, "According to reliable sources in the underworld, after Yu Canghai arrived in Fujian, he did not go directly to Fuzhou, but went to Putian first, wanting to visit Abbot Haiku of the Southern Shaolin Temple."

Yue Feng frowned slightly: "Oh? What's the reason for that?"

Zhang San said, "At first I didn't know either. Later, I asked some friends in the martial arts world and learned that when Yu Canghai went to visit Hai Ku, the gifts he brought far exceeded the normal amount. I think he probably wanted something from Hai Ku in order to deal with the Fuwei Escort Agency."

Yue Feng said calmly, "The Qingcheng Sect doesn't need any other help to deal with the Fuwei Escort Agency. I think it's because they want to use some extraordinary means against the Fuwei Escort Agency and are worried that the Southern Shaolin will interfere, so they're trying to build a good relationship first."

Zhang San asked with some skepticism, "The Fuwei Escort Agency has a prestigious reputation in the martial arts world. The Qingcheng Sect should have some reservations and wouldn't go too far, right?"

Yue Feng snorted, thinking to himself, "Perhaps it's because everyone thinks this way that the Qingcheng Sect in the original story didn't even have anyone to check and balance them. In such a vast martial world, they just watched helplessly as the Fuwei Escort Agency was wiped out—it's utterly shameful!"

He thought about these things and let them go, naturally he couldn't say them to Zhang San. He simply said, "We'll know who's right and who's wrong in time. Go on."

Zhang San nodded and continued speaking.

"My junior sister and I were eyeing the gift that Yu Canghai was giving to the Southern Shaolin Temple. The Qingcheng Sect is a large and wealthy sect, so they don't care about such a small amount of money. If the gift is lost, they can just buy another one. But for us two thieves, it's a different story."

"However... both the Qingcheng Sect and the Southern Shaolin Temple are powerful forces in the martial arts world. Although my junior sister and I have some expertise in thievery and lightness skills, we are still not entirely confident. When I saw Brother Yue make his move at the inn just now, I thought..."

"You just want to recruit me so we can pull off a heist together, right?" Yue Feng interrupted Zhang San.

Zhang San and Li Si couldn't help but laugh. Zhang San nodded repeatedly, while Li Si laughed and said, "Brother Yue, you look even more like a thief than the two of us!"

Yue Feng thought to himself, “I’ve been through so much on my journey from Mount Hua, I’ve almost been a thief, let alone a petty thief. What’s one more time than this? Besides, I have no qualms about robbing the Qingcheng Sect. I’m just afraid of not taking everything properly or thoroughly enough.”

"Okay, count me in. How will we split the profits after it's done?"

"Take your pick. If Brother Yue doesn't like any of them, leave them for us."

"no problem."

Zhang San and Li Si were overjoyed that Yue Feng agreed so readily. Li Si, in particular, practically had his eyes glued to Yue Feng.

The three of them agreed on a specific plan of action and set off together for Putian. Putian wasn't far from here, and all three were masters of light-footed martial arts; with their full speed, they should be able to arrive before the gift handover.

……

A town near the Southern Shaolin Temple in Putian, Fujian.

Yu Canghai, the powerful leader of the Qingcheng Sect, has been staying in the largest inn in town for five days.

Over five days, he repeatedly presented visiting cards to the Southern Shaolin Temple, but was refused entry each time. The monk in charge of receiving guests explained that Abbot Haiku had been in seclusion for many years and was no longer involved in worldly affairs, thus refusing all visitors.

Since that's the case, then it seems they won't interfere in the affairs of the Lin family of Fuwei Escort Agency.

Yu Canghai was pondering this in his mind, about to call for help, when he suddenly heard his son, Yu Renyan, knocking on the door and calling out, "Father, people from the Southern Shaolin Temple have arrived!"

Yu Canghai's eyes darted around, and he said in a deep voice, "Please let our distinguished guest in!"

A moment later, Yu Renyan led in a young monk. The monk was dressed simply, but had a dignified appearance. He held a visiting card in both hands and respectfully presented it to Yu Canghai, saying, "This humble monk, Hua Hui, a disciple of Zen Master Hairong, pays respects to Abbot Yu of Songfeng Temple of the Qingcheng Sect."

Yu Canghai had lingered in the town for several days, and had already gotten a general idea of ​​the situation at the Southern Shaolin Temple. He knew that Zen Master Hairong was the junior brother of Zen Master Haiku, and the two were known as the "Twin Monks of Ku and Rong," and were widely respected. Hairong did indeed have a disciple with the Dharma name Huahui, but he had never seen him before, and was surprised to find that he was so handsome.

Yu Canghai gave a faint "hmm," and Yu Renyan took the visiting card and handed it to him. Yu Canghai took the card, opened it, and asked, "Master Hai Rong sent you here; what instructions do you have?"

Hua Hui said respectfully, "My master sent me here to..." Suddenly, she stretched out her long arm and drew Yu Renyan's sword with lightning speed.

Yu Renyan had never expected this turn of events. Just as he realized what was happening, Hua Hui had already swung her longsword, swiftly slashing at Yu Canghai's neck from left to right. This move was powerful and heavy; although it was a thin and slender longsword, it exuded the imposing aura of a spear, halberd, and a menacing horse.

"A jade dragon from beyond the heavens! That bastard is from the Songshan Sect!"

In the blink of an eye, Hua Hui's sword tip was already close to his throat. Even with his master-level martial arts skills, he could only dodge hastily in this unexpected situation.

He tilted his head back, dodging Hua Hui's sword tip, and was about to draw his sword when he suddenly felt an itch in his palm.

"That bastard poisoned the letter!"

Yu Canghai roared, his fingers moving like the wind, sealing over a dozen major acupoints on his arms and shoulders to prevent the poison from rising. While this ensured his temporary safety, it also diminished his overall strength. Hua Hui, while attacking him, still had the energy to deal with Yu Renyan's harassment.

Yu Canghai struggled to defend against Hua Hui's attacks, noticing the poisonous gas in his palms slowly rising along the meridians of his arms. He couldn't help but berate Yu Renyan, who was helping him, "What are you doing dying here! Go and call your senior brothers!"

Yu Renyan snapped out of his daze and hurriedly ran outside. Hua Hui drew her sword to stop him, but Yu Canghai parried her attacks with all his might. Hearing a flurry of footsteps outside the room, Hua Hui turned and left.

"You're ganging up on us because you outnumber us, you're not heroes! I'm not playing with you anymore!"

Yu Canghai thought that if he let this little thief get away today, he would be ashamed to face his disciples in the future. After confirming that the poison gas had reached the sealed acupoints and stopped rising, he leaped out of the door and personally gave chase. Despite being poisoned, his movements were still very agile and nimble, and in an instant he was behind Hua Hui.

Just then, Yu Renyan led a group of Qingcheng Sect disciples to surround the area from both sides of the corridor. Hua Hui looked around, then suddenly leaped up, tapping the Qingcheng Sect disciples' heads a few times with her toes, and crashed into a room at the end of the corridor with a "bang".

Yu Canghai and his disciples rushed to the door of the room, only to find it empty. On the table lay an iron swallow, pressing down a note on it. Someone had written in childish handwriting:

"Thank you for the gift, Abbot Yu. Respectfully submitted by Yanzimen."

Yu Canghai shouted, unleashing his inner force to shatter the paper into pieces. He pushed aside his disciple and rushed back to his room, only to find that a box under the bed had been dragged out sometime earlier, containing another paper with intricate strokes:

"If you want to live, go back to Songfeng Temple. The people of Fujian don't welcome you."