Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

Chapter 116 Remnants Reunite to Seek Old Friends, Unrivaled Sword Drawing Technique

In the dead of night, deep within a dense forest outside Jianmen Pass, heart-wrenching cries echoed.

"Father, Mother!" Someone looked towards the direction of the Sword Tower, knelt down and kowtowed, tears streaming down their face.

"Master, junior sister!" Someone pounded their chest and stamped their feet, vomiting blood in agony.

"Wrong, all wrong. From the very beginning, we shouldn't have coveted the treasure of Xiyi. It's gone, everything is gone, hahaha." Some people were in a daze of regret, sometimes crying and sometimes laughing, their minds already out of control on the verge of falling into demonic ways.

The seventy-seven survivors who had miraculously survived the dragon riders' iron hooves gathered together and each tried to contact their ancestral home in the Sword Tower, but received no response, only a long, deathly silence. They knew that their family's power had been wiped out.

They no longer have a home, no longer have relatives and friends.

Their emotional ties to this corrupt world have been severed.

From then on, they could only become wandering ghosts and homeless dogs in this evil world.

Pain and regret will fill the hearts of each of them, driving them to madness.

At this moment, Chai Ronggui wiped away his tears and stood up: "Everyone, cheer up. There's no time to dwell on the past. Since God has allowed us to survive, it proves that we still have an unfinished mission."

The crowd stopped crying and looked at Chai Ronggui, not understanding what he wanted to say.

But they were curious about what mission these stray dogs had to serve.

Chai Ronggui straightened his chest, planted the long-handled reverse-blade sword in the ground, glanced around and said, "A blood feud must be avenged. Rather than living a life of ignominy and regretting it every day, it is better to fight with all our might."

"If you do not abandon me, I, Chai Ronggui, am willing to lead everyone to continue the pursuit of Zhou Qingfeng and seize the Xiyi Treasure."

"After we seize the treasure, our seventy-seven men will recruit soldiers and build up our strength."

"One day, we will return to the Sword Tower and avenge our enemies!"

After speaking, Chai Ronggui lifted his robe, knelt down on both knees, clasped his hands and looked up at the moon: "The Five Turbid Heavens are above, and the Eight Sufferings are below. I, Chai Ronggui, am willing to swear brotherhood with all my brothers here."

"We will share happiness and hardship from now on. We don't ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we ask to die on the same day, month, and year."

"May I be struck down by heaven and earth if I break this oath."

Upon hearing this, the seventy-six people, whose hearts had been ashen, slowly regained their vitality and hope, as if they had found a reason to continue living: "Yes, we are burdened with a blood feud, how can we just give up?"

"Let's do it!" The seventy-six men knelt down, clasped their hands together, looked up at the moon, and swore in unison: "The Five Turbid Heavens above, the Eight Bitter Earths below, I..."

The remnants, who were on the verge of collapse and disintegration, were brought together again by Chai Ronggui.

Homeless, they called themselves the Seventy-Seven Ronin.

For the rest of their lives, their shared goal was to overthrow the Sword Tower and avenge their blood feud.

"Brother Chai, what should we do?" a wandering monk asked.

With a piercing gaze, Chai Ronggui said, “Brothers, come with me to Gancaobao for a while. The garrison commander of Gancaobao, Xing Cishu, is an old friend of mine. We can rest for a night and then make plans.”

Chai Ronggui led his seventy-six wandering cultivators straight to Gancaobao.

When General Xing Cishu learned that his friend had come to visit him late at night, he was overjoyed and immediately ordered the castle gates to be opened wide to welcome his friend to the General's mansion for a banquet.

Even now, there is a food shortage and the people are suffering from famine.

Xing Cishu also ordered his servants to prepare fine wine and delicacies, which was extremely extravagant and ostentatious.

At most, it will cause the people some more hardship, but it's not a big deal.

However, Xing Cishu's reputation was of paramount importance, and hosting a banquet for old friends was something that absolutely could not be done in a shabby manner.

Otherwise, if you lose face in front of old friends, how will you ever be able to hold your head high again?

At the dinner table, Xing Cishu chatted with Chai Ronggui for a while, asking why he suddenly made a nighttime visit to Gancaobao.

Chai Ronggui told the truth and did not intend to hide anything from Xing Cishu.

The two belonged to different camps and served different city lords, so it could be said that they became friends after fighting.

Because Winterfell and Sword Tower share borders and occasionally clash, their relationship is already tense, with each city constantly fighting the other.

In the end, it was the soldiers and civilians below who died in the fighting.

Even if a powerful and wealthy person is defeated, as long as they are willing to surrender, they will not be killed even if they are captured alive afterwards.

They can be freed as long as someone in the family pays the ransom.

This is a rule within the elite circles, designed to ensure the safety of the powerful and privileged.

If anyone breaks this rule, they will cruelly kill the surrendered nobles.

Then they would be treated the same as other powerful and influential people, and they would be killed one by one if caught.

Until the powerful family that broke this bad rule is wiped out.

Chai Ronggui was captured alive by Xing Cishu, and Xing Cishu was also captured alive by Chai Ronggui.

They have come and gone countless times over the decades.

The brotherhood between the two is extremely deep.

They were truly close friends and family, and confidants who would die for each other.

Xing Cishu stared at his friend: "Brother Chai, do you trust me so much? Aren't you afraid I'll betray you? If I capture you and send you back to the Sword Tower, I'm sure the Sword Tower city lord will give me a generous reward."

Chai Ronggui smiled nonchalantly: "Brother Xing, I now have nothing left and no attachments."

"You are my only true friend in the world. I have no other choice but to come here to seek refuge with Brother Xing."

“Brother Xing, if you want to capture me, there’s no need to lift a finger. I will surrender without resistance.”

“I, Chai, am willing to exchange my head for Brother Xing’s wealth and honor.”

Upon hearing this, Xing Cishu was deeply moved and couldn't help but grasp Chai Ronggui's hand: "Brother Chai trusts me so much, how could I, Xing Cishu, be a person who would betray my promise for the sake of wealth and honor?"

"Brother Chai, please feel free to stay here as long as you like."

"Please feel free to ask if you need anything, and I, Xing, will certainly find a way to take care of it."

Chai Ronggui said, "Brother Xing, I do have a favor to ask of you."

Xing Cishu said confidently, "Speak freely."

Chai Ronggui said, "We are currently intercepting Zhou Qingfeng. Please help me find out his whereabouts, Brother Xing. After we succeed, we will split the treasure fifty-fifty. I will definitely not let you work for nothing."

Xing Cishu smiled slightly: "I am honored by Brother Chai's high regard. I will do my best to try. Do you have a portrait of Zhou Qingfeng, or a portrait of someone close to him?"

Chai Ronggui took out the Turbid-grade magic artifact, the Image Retention Stone, from his storage bag and infused it with magic power.

Then the images and names of the six people are projected onto the photo stone.

Among them are Zhou Qingfeng, Ye Tingxiu, Jin Wei, Xiao Hongyun, Master Chen, and Old Cripple.

All six are core members; if we find just one, we can find the entire team.

Xing Cishu nodded and took the photo stone. He said to the guard commander beside him, "Commander Wen, go and make a rubbing of the faces and names of these six people and send it throughout the Gancaobao area so that the people below can keep an eye out for them."

"In addition, issue a reward, saying that these six people are spies sent by the Lord of Sword Tower City. Anyone who can provide clues will be rewarded with 10,000 coins, anyone who captures one alive will be rewarded with 50,000 coins, and anyone who can capture Zhou Qingfeng alive will be rewarded with 100,000 coins."

Gancaobao is not a large area, only about 60 miles west of the border.

The territory of Winter City is a snowy wasteland, where heavy snow falls all year round.

Gancaobao is a military fortress located on the border, a sparsely populated and harsh place.

However, here, Xingci Tree is a veritable local tyrant.

Commander Wen nodded and walked out of the banquet hall.

A moment later, he turned back and whispered a few words in Xing Cishu's ear.

Xing Cishu's face immediately turned green, and he even broke the chopsticks in his hand.

Chai Ronggui noticed something was wrong and asked with concern, "What happened?"

Xing Cishu smiled nonchalantly and said, "I need to take care of some family matters. Brother Chai, please enjoy your meal. After you've finished eating and drinking, I'll invite you to watch some entertainment later."

After saying that, Xing Cishu got up and walked out of the banquet hall. He glanced at the two apprentices from Tianyao Hall who were waiting outside the door, said nothing, and just beckoned them to follow.

The two apprentices from the Heavenly Medicine Hall exchanged a glance and immediately followed Xing Cishu.

Once they were a little further away from the banquet hall, Xing Cishu stopped, turned around, and said coldly, "Is what you're saying true? Are you sure it's Madam Lan's old flame?"

Although Xing Cishu didn't care about Lan Yue's life or death, he did care about being cuckolded.

So even though Lan Yue went to the Heavenly Medicine Hall, she still sent two people to secretly monitor her.

An apprentice bowed and said, "General Xing, I saw it clearly."

"Madam Lan shed tears for a strange man; she cried so bitterly."

"The two seemed to be old lovers who had unexpectedly reunited. The man specially brought a lot of food for Madam Lan, repeatedly saying that he wanted to take Madam Lan away, and even took out a token of their love."

"Madam Lan refused, saying she didn't know him, and kicked him out."

"But the man didn't leave. Instead, he stayed outside the Tianyao Pharmacy, pestering them relentlessly. He almost got into a fight with the patrolling guards. Madam Lan stepped in to protect the man and drove the patrolling guards away."

As Xing Cishu listened, his face grew greener and greener, as if a green hat had fallen from the sky.

Daring to sleep with your own woman on your own turf is courting death.

Even if he has used and worn out this woman, she is not someone else's to lay a finger on.

Xing Cishu called out, "Warm a cup."

Commander Wen stepped forward quickly, cupped his hands, and said, "Your humble servant is here."

Xing Cishu said, "Take some men to fetch Madam Lan back to the manor, and while you're at it, capture that scoundrel who dared to harass her. I'd like to see what kind of hero dares to harass my wife."

Commander Wen bowed his head in response, then turned and ordered two squads of guards to garrison the General's Mansion before heading straight for the Heavenly Medicine Hall.

Outside the Tianyao Pharmacy.

Lan Yue, her face covered by a white veil, said coldly, "Let's go."

Ye Tingxiu stood at the bottom of the steps, slightly raised his head to look up at Lan Yue's eyes, then carefully stretched out his hand and opened his palm to reveal a red bean: "Yue'er, look, the red bean is still there."

Lan Yue glanced at it, then reluctantly waved her hand to sweep away the red beans: "Get lost."

Ye Tingxiu froze for a moment, then silently lowered his head, bent down with difficulty to pick up the red bean, wiped it clean, and carefully placed it into a brocade pouch as if it were a precious treasure. He then wore it around his neck, murmuring, "You are not her..."

He looked up again at the woman on the steps who was both familiar and unfamiliar.

Their figures are similar, and their eyes and eyebrows are similar.

She looked exactly like the moon in my memory, from head to toe.

But... she's not Yue'er; Yue'er wouldn't do that.

Tears streamed silently down Ye Tingxiu's face. Overwhelmed with grief, he clutched his heart and vomited a pool of blood. The pain of his broken bones and dislocated tendons did not affect his heartache.

Upon seeing this, Lan Yue trembled and almost instinctively rushed over to help him.

However, she suppressed the impulse; she was no longer an ignorant young girl.

For Ye Tingxiu's safety and future.

She knew that only by remaining completely indifferent could she finally make Ye Tingxiu leave.

Ye Tingxiu turned around, leaned against the wall, and staggered back step by step.

At this moment, Commander Wen arrived at the Tianyao Pharmacy with two teams of guards.

Lan Yue panicked. She glanced at Ye Tingxiu's back instinctively and forced herself to remain calm, saying, "Commander Wen, what is your purpose in bringing so many people here?"

Commander Wen, expressionless, clasped his hands and said, "Madam Lan, nothing in Gancaobao can be hidden from General Xing."

"The general has ordered that Lady Lan be brought back to the manor immediately."

Upon hearing this, Lan Yue's face turned pale. She knew that if she returned to the manor now, she would surely be tortured to death.

But she didn't shout a word. She knew that if she had shouted, Ye Tingxiu would have come back to save her without hesitation.

"Someone, escort Madam Lan back to her residence." Commander Wen waved his hand.

Two guards grabbed Lan Yue's arms and stuffed her into the sedan chair.

Four guards carried the sedan chair and turned to head towards the garrison general's residence.

Commander Wen glanced at the strange man who was leaning against the wall and walking with difficulty not far away, and pointed at him: "He should be that scoundrel who flirted with Lady Lan. Take him back to the manor to see the general."

Upon hearing this, the two teams of guards immediately drew their swords and gave chase, surrounding Ye Tingxiu.

Lan Yue, still in the sedan chair, peeked out from behind the curtain. Seeing Ye Tingxiu in danger, she couldn't hold back any longer and ripped off her face mask, shouting, "Run! Little Ye, run! Run!!!"

"Yue'er..." Ye Tingxiu glanced around in a daze, his unfocused eyes gradually sharpening. He turned back to look in the direction from which the voice came and saw Yue'er being kidnapped by a group of people.

She is the moon, and only the moon calls herself Little Leaf.

But why would she treat herself that way?

Not important anymore.

The important thing is that Yue'er is in danger. Anyone who dares to touch Yue'er, I will kill them.

"Get out of my way, or die!" Ye Tingxiu's eyes instantly sharpened, his killing intent soared to the sky, and his scarlet, evil magic power raged outwards. He gripped the hilts of the two knives on either side of his waist with his hands crossed.

The guards and Commander Wen were all startled; it turned out to be a cultivator at the Food Disaster Realm.

However, Commander Wen was not intimidated. He was also a cultivator at the Disaster-Eating Realm, and his dozens of guards at the Turbidity-Eating Realm were elite soldiers carefully selected from among the troops: "Everyone, attack together and capture him alive."

Seeing this, Ye Tingxiu slammed his feet into the ground and lunged towards Lan Yue.

At the same time, he instantly drew his sword and swung it rapidly in the narrow alley, each strike drawing blood, limbs and severed legs flying everywhere, as if he were cutting melons and vegetables.

After traveling only ten meters, more than ten people had already been slashed or killed.

It truly is a case of killing one person with every step.

It crushed everything in its path, offering no defense whatsoever.

Those guards from the Turbid Realm couldn't even break through Ye Tingxiu's physical defenses.

This is a difference in realm, a huge chasm in the level of life.

Even if a cultivator at the Turbidity Realm could shatter a thousand-foot-high mountain with a single punch.

However, even a high-level life form with the three calamities combined cannot be penetrated.

The levels of cultivation are so strict; otherwise, there wouldn't be cultivators so desperately trying to leapfrog into higher realms.

Commander Wen couldn't stand it any longer. He immediately grabbed his spear, leaped forward, and thrust it straight at Ye Tingxiu's heart: "You brat, you think you can chop my men up like vegetables? Do you think I'm dead?!"

"Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique!" Ye Tingxiu dodged to the side, charging forward with lightning speed. His twin swords spun back to their sheaths, and then he drew his sword with one hand. A scarlet blade light swept across the entire narrow alley, and dozens of guards were all cleaved into a bloody mist by the terrifying blade light.

Buildings collapsed one after another, and hundreds of meters ahead were cleaved into ruins by this single strike, leaving a huge crack in the ground that was hundreds of feet deep and ten feet wide.

The Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique ranks eleventh among disaster-level spells.

Drawing the sword is the strongest killing move. Before striking, the killing intent, sword intent, and magical power are hidden in the blade. Suddenly drawing the sword and slashing, assassinating from the shadows, is always successful.

This is an assassination knife technique taught by Night Owl, originally used to assassinate enemies and kill them with a single blow.

However, when Ye Tingxiu used it, it appeared majestic and invincible.

Commander Wen was covered in blood and seriously injured. A huge gash ran diagonally from his shoulder to his abdomen, and blood was gushing out.

He staggered to his feet, holding a single gun, and looked up at Ye Tingxiu with difficulty. Ye Tingxiu looked familiar, but he couldn't remember who he was for a moment.

"Who exactly are you? With your strength, you can't be an unknown nobody."

Ye Tingxiu sheathed his sword and walked step by step to Commander Wen: "Among those of the same rank, very few can withstand a single strike from me. You are not dead, not because you are strong enough, but because I sheathed my sword."

"Tell me, where did you take Yue'er?"

"Take me to her, and I can give you a quick death afterwards."

……

P.S.: This is a combined chapter of two chapters, totaling 4,500 words.