Chapter 35 035[VIP]

A way to deal with Di Feijing...

Guan Chun wasn't the only one frightened by these words.

Wuqing and Lengxue's expressions changed immediately.

Was the assassin of Fang Geyin also Di Feijing, the fugitive Grand Master of the Six and a Half Hall?

During Lei Sun's lifetime, no word of the Die-Headed Dragon's martial arts prowess had spread. Lei Sun only considered him a resourceful advisor, skilled in management and coordination, and a discerning judge of talent.

Even his uncle had said that a broken cervical vertebra like Di Feijing's would be significantly more difficult to cultivate, as his vital energy wouldn't circulate as it would normally, making martial arts practice much more challenging and difficult to achieve profound internal energy.

Even with the influence of corruption, the scar on Fang Geyin's face was still severe. Was

this truly Di Feijing's doing?

Wuqing quickly formed a conclusion.

As a renowned detective, he was adept at reading expressions, so naturally, he hadn't missed the look on Guan Chun's face.

It wasn't the bewilderment of being completely clueless about the situation, but more like the bewilderment of having one's weaknesses suddenly exposed.

"I..." Guan Chun felt a mixture of emotions, as if thrown off balance by Shi Qingruo's sudden question.

She didn't know any martial arts, but just as Shi Qingruo had said, she recognized Di Feijing's moves.

"I know this question is difficult for you to answer." Shi Qingruo patted her shoulder, her voice growing warmer. "After Lei Sun's death, if I hadn't first attacked the Marquis of Shentong's mansion and cut off your escape route, you might not have separated from Di Feijing so quickly. And if I hadn't given you power while also keeping you under surveillance from all sides, you might still have had the opportunity to collaborate with him, both internally and externally, and seek a new path for the Liufenbantang."

"But look, you haven't had the opportunity to meet or exchange letters with him in just two months, and he's already made a presumptuous decision, choosing such a dangerous ally for the dormant Liufenbantang. If he can do this today, he can do something even more troublesome tomorrow." Guan

Chun pursed her lips, not immediately responding.

Or rather, she didn't know how to respond to Shi Qingruo's words.

Madam Shi's last two sentences were a complete attempt to sow discord between her and Di Feijing, but she was not wrong in some ways.

If Di Feijing could completely conceal his whereabouts from others, at least keeping the Six and a Half Hall out of the picture regarding Fang Geyin's murder, then this could be considered a clear and effective decision.

However, if his martial arts and techniques were not a secret to some, then killing a hero considered upright by the world and mingling with someone like Yuan Shisanxian would be a completely foolish decision!

This decision certainly shouldn't have been made by Di Feijing.

Shi Qingruo continued, "Chun'er, I can forgive you for what you did in the Six and a Half Hall. I wasn't lying when I said I would take good care of you for my seventh brother. I hope you can clarify which side you're on today."

Which side?

Guan Chun was well aware of the extent to which her identity as the eldest daughter of the Mitian League was distorted by Guan Qi's departure from the void. She also remembered the bitter vengeance of Shi Qingruo's death due to Lei Tan.

However, since its initial recruitment, the Misty Heaven Alliance has not led to conflict due to its disorganized membership, but has instead thrived. However, the exiled head of the Six and a Half Sect has acted with impatience, exposing a potential source of criticism. For Guan Chun, who desires more than just a boudoir lady, the question of which side to side with seems straightforward.

At least for now, as long as she remains within the Misty Heaven Alliance and has committed no fault, she is recognized as the "Miss."

Guan Chun took a deep breath and replied, "Di Feijing's judgments are always concise, each word carefully considered. He simply doesn't express certain things, but he actually thinks a lot. To contain him, we need to make him suspicious but not impulsive."

"Besides—"

Guan Chun's eyes flickered. "He's a man of affection."

Shi Qingruo smiled with satisfaction.

This affection wasn't just for Lei Sun, a debt of gratitude, but also... for the former Miss Lei, now Miss Guan.

Moreover, for Di Feijing now, Guan Chun, who was in the Misty Heaven Alliance, had been forced into a desperate situation and was imprisoned, awaiting rescue from him, who was outside. Essentially, they were on the same side. As long as

this "feeling" remained intact, using Guan Chun to restrain Di Feijing was entirely feasible.

Shi Qingruo gathered her sleeves and released the hand that was holding Guan Chun. Seeing that Sikong Zhaixing had obediently closed the doors and windows of the room, she slowly spoke, "There are no outsiders here, so I don't mind saying a few more words. Fang Geyin and Fang Juxia died at the hands of three people: one must be Yuan Shisanxian, and the other was Di Feijing."

Seeing Shi Qingruo suddenly look at her, Guan Chun didn't hesitate this time and responded with a firm "yes."

"There's another person, whose name I can't reveal for now, as I'm unsure of his current motives. I can only guess he's targeting me. He's an old acquaintance of mine."

Shi Qingruo's tone was slightly amused when she mentioned the word "old acquaintance," then tinged with sarcasm. "He's not someone you can easily fathom. He prioritizes profit and acts arbitrarily. He must be the mastermind behind Fang Juxia's death. Given that, I can't remain indifferent to his declaration of war."

"Madam Shi..."

Lu Xiaofeng's voice, tinged with concern, was barely uttered when Shi Qingruo raised her hand to signal him otherwise.

"I'm planning to leave the capital for a while. Chun'er, what are your thoughts?"

Guan Chun had already guessed that Shi Qingruo wasn't simply seeking to uncover Di Feijing's weaknesses, but she hadn't expected her to address the question so bluntly.

The leader of the Misty Heaven Alliance was leaving for a while, undoubtedly adding another variable to the already unstable situation in Bianjing.

If not handled properly, not only might Fu Zongshu take advantage of this opportunity to launch an offensive against the Mi Tian League, but the mysterious person revealed in Shi Qingruo's words might also make significant moves. There is also Di Feijing who is waiting for an opportunity to act outside, and Ye Gucheng who has already visited him twice...

However, Shi Qingruo seemed to have not only made up his mind about his plan, but also had no qualms about throwing this news to Guan Chun. He also told Guan Chun what had happened in front of the bodies of Fang Geyin and his wife.

She looked up at Shi Qingruo, her eyes somehow heavy, and even her tone became more cautious. She asked, "Madam, how long do you plan to be gone?"

Shi Qingruo replied, "A month at most."

A moment of thought flashed across Guan Chun's eyes. "Let's start with the matter of Fang Juxia. With Madam's earlier question and Captain Jin's investigation, Gao Xiaoshang definitely won't be able to take over the factions left behind by Fang Juxia within a month. When the Six and a Half Sect fell, the scramble for manpower hasn't ended yet, and the same is likely true for the Xuehe Tianyu factions. The situation is different now, and many more people will be waiting and watching."

Shi Qingruo nodded. Lately, Guan Chun and Wang Xiaoshi have been jointly responsible for many matters related to recruiting new members for the Mitian Alliance. If she were asked to secretly compete with the Qinglong Society for personnel during this period, she could do it.

"Let's talk about Ye Gucheng, Lord of Baiyun City. Young Master Lu has already sent a letter to Wanmei Villa, informing Young Master Ximen of the Shattered Void incident, and he's already on his way. If we can postpone the battle between him and City Master Ye to view the ruins for a month, we should be able to hold him back."

As soon as Guan Chun finished speaking, Lu Xiaofeng spoke up, "I'll handle that."

With Guan Qi's exemplary example of reaching new realms in swordsmanship, Ximen Chuxue wouldn't be able to fight Ye Gucheng to the death. His old friend was devoted to swordsmanship, and now he could either benefit greatly from fighting against a top swordsman or receive guidance from his ancestors—either way, it would be a good thing.

It just required setting the time for the decisive battle at least a month later, which wasn't too difficult.

"But I'm afraid Ye Gucheng will visit the Misty Heaven Alliance again during this period," Sikong Zhaixing interrupted coldly.

Lu Xiaofeng's ambush, which he had concealed from him, could be discussed later. Since Shi Qingruo's departure was a secret, a repeat of Ye Gucheng's earlier intrusion would likely derail the plan.

Shi Qingruo replied, "Just say that the Misty Heaven Alliance, in order to protect the ruins, doesn't want any guests for now."

Ye Gucheng held the token she had given him, due after the decisive battle. She believed he wouldn't repeat his rude midnight visit.

Meanwhile, it was a good opportunity for Su Louzhu's men to investigate his companions, who were hiding in the dark.

Seeing that Shi Qingruo had reached a conclusion, Guan Chun continued, "As for the Prime Minister's Mansion, there was an unresolved case previously, and they wanted to use it to monitor the Divine Marquis Mansion and the Misty Heaven Alliance and catch us short. It might as well be in their interest to let them continue doing so. The Divine Demon Flying Needle came from the Tang Clan in Shu, and the investigation will take at least a month. As long as they see that the Madam is still in the alliance, they can actually delay the process." "

They will also focus more on the succession of power after Fang Geyin's death, and it will be easy to overlook who is in charge of the Misty Heaven Alliance." Shi Qingruo said.

Guan Chun nodded. "That's right."

"Then there's Yuan Shisanxian." She hesitated for a moment. "I don't know much about this person. I only know that he is Zhuge Shenhou's junior apprentice. I wonder if the Divine Marquis Mansion can delay for a while..."

"I'll discuss this with my uncle," Wuqing answered decisively.

With the sudden calamity that killed the great hero Fang, regardless of the reason behind Zhuge Shenhou's repeated lax supervision of his junior fellow apprentice, letting his fellow disciples' friendships entangle him, he should be more cautious now.

Otherwise, who knows if he will be the next to suffer an accident?

Holding him back for a month shouldn't be a difficult task.

"Then the only ones left are that mysterious person and Di Feijing," Guan Chun said. "After Madam leaves, I'll disguise myself as you, and someone else will disguise themselves as me, so we can often go out together. Is that okay?"

Seeing Shi Qingruo pondering her suggestion with interest, Guan Chun explained, "Although I haven't corresponded with Di Feijing, he told me before I came to the Mitian Alliance that someone within the alliance would bring him information about my safety, so he could find an opportunity to confirm it." "

Di Feijing recognizes me and can certainly tell where I stand. But I didn't ask him for help. With another me still in the alliance and someone close to me, he'd be wary of taking action."

Di Feijing had feelings for Guan Chun. Without confirming the situation, he wouldn't dare tell anyone else that Guan Chun was using Shi Qingruo's appearance.

He couldn't guarantee that if anyone learned the information came from him, Guan Chun wouldn't be killed.

He had to keep it secret, but he also had to test the waters.

For Guan Chun, who knew Di Feijing well, this probing attempt was a clue waiting to land.

Regardless of whether she truly considered herself a member of the Misty Heaven Alliance, at least her desire to use this opportunity to gain merit was genuine.

Having been outmaneuvered several times by Shi Qingruo, even revealing information that shouldn't be shared with outsiders, she didn't dare risk such a move for the time being.

After all, if the Six-and-a-half Hall plot to murder Fang Geyin were exposed, she would have no way out.

Shi Qingruo clapped her hands in approval, saying, "As you say, as for the disguise—"

She looked at Sikong Zhaixing hopefully, "Would you mind…"

Lu Xiaofeng covered his eyes, completely unwilling to admit that this person, who had already said "no trouble, no trouble," was his friend.

But he had to admit that even as he listened to Shi Qingruo and her adopted daughter discuss using emotions to manipulate others, when he himself was in the middle of the situation, he was no different from joining in.

It was truly a sigh.

Guan Chun, speaking from the other end, had finished his words: "But I can't do anything about that mysterious man."

"No, you can do it," Shi Qingruo replied. "Just do what I would do in the alliance. Especially when it comes to fighting for the connections left by Fang Juxia, I want you to show enough courage and skill to confront those who try to take advantage of the situation."

Gongzi Yu insisted that he must be seen, so this was her answer.

Fang Geyin's death was an opportunity for her. She must first secure the tangible benefits she could, then discuss the accounts of past and present lives with Gongzi Yu.

He would certainly send someone to rob her.

But Guan Chun was a shrewd person, well-versed in the ways of gang survival, and he wouldn't necessarily lose under such pressure.

"There's one more thing I can do to ease your stress," Shi Qingruo said. "I'll have Xiao Shitou go to Taihu Lake. The once-renowned swordsman Li Guanyu wielded a renowned sword, but due to his obsession with martial arts, it's become a scrap metal. We'd love to borrow it so we can use it as a weapon against powerful enemies."

"But that's not what I value more. It's that before his misfortune, he created a sword formation, which I find very useful."

Yesterday, Huang Rong had sent a pigeon to Bianjing from the disciples of the Mi Tian League in Gusu to report the situation at Taihu Lake.

Given the pressing situation there, the situation must have evolved significantly in the past two days, though we can only make rough assumptions.

Besides borrowing the sword and the formation, Wang Xiaoshi could also join forces with Huang Rong and Chu Liuxiang back there to escalate the situation.

If they could inflict losses on Fu Zongshu, it wouldn't mean she was completely ineffective in the face of the provocations of Gongzi Yu and the others.

Then, her departure would be even less likely to be noticed.

...

"I still don't quite understand why Senior Sister wants that obscure Jin Jiuling to contact Gao Xiaoshang?" Wenrou asked doubtfully.

"Jin Jiuling isn't exactly obscure, but because his younger generation, the Four Famous Constables, became famous too early, and those above him, the God of Constables Liu Dufeng and the King of Constables Li Xuanyi, were also famous far earlier, his position is somewhat awkward."

Since Wenrou was currently in the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower, it was the building's chief steward, Yang Wuxie, who answered her question.

"So what?" Wenrou muttered.

Yang Wuxie had a gentle and refined appearance, and his words to the usually volatile Wenrou were equally calm and composed. However, he couldn't help but internally grumble. Previously, the tower owner had "fostered" Miss Wen in the Misty Heaven Alliance, with Madam Shi looking after her, which had saved him a lot of trouble. Now that Madam Shi was going out, and Miss Wen had returned to the tower, she was afraid there would be a lot of childcare to do.

I just hope that everything won't be thrown at him all at once.

But even though he thought so, no such emotion could be seen on his decent face: "When the three great detectives died one after another and the four famous detectives were temporarily restricted by other things, Jin Jiuling was the most suitable candidate. And Madam Shi also gave him a reason to go all out." "

Madam Shi said that after Fang Juxia died, his wealth fell into Gao Xiaoshang's hands. This is a big temptation for Jin Jiuling. Bai Lou checked his income and found that it was somewhat inconsistent with his expenditure level. I guess there are additional transactions behind the scenes."

"If he really did something inappropriate because of this wealth, it would not only give Gao Xiaoshang some trouble, but also expose himself."

Jin Jiuling must know that since Fang Geyin's death, Gao Xiaoshang will definitely become the focus of Bianjing, but how to say it...

human nature is the most fragile thing.

Wenrou nodded, half understanding, then heard Su Mengzhen's voice from the other end: "So, before Madam Shi left, she had already arranged who would be in what position."

Such impulsiveness truly impressed the onlookers.

Compared to Fang Geyin's poor judgment of people, Shi Qingruo's response was truly worthy of a gang leader.

"Is that why you're not worried about Senior Sister traveling alone?"

Su Mengzhen turned around and saw Wenrou had turned her attention away from Yang Wuxie, now gazing at him with disapproval, her hands on her hips.

He coughed twice and replied, "She must have her reasons for making such a decision."

Honestly, upon hearing that Shi Qingruo was about to leave alone after completing her arrangements, his instinctive reaction was to dissuade her.

But having worked with her several times before, he knew that Shi Qingruo wasn't a reckless person.

When her martial arts skills were less advanced, she had used all her available strength, managing the situation with her own intelligence. Even if she did resort to a scheme involving risking herself as bait, she had powerful supporters by her side to ensure her safety.

Furthermore, her martial arts skills were no longer what they had been back then.

She was either unable to explain her whereabouts, just as she couldn't explain the identity of the mysterious man, and was therefore unable to clearly state her destination, preferring to keep it secret. Or, she had learned from Fang Geyin's lesson and was ensuring her own actions were free from outside interference.

Regardless, since he trusted his allies to handle the situation, he only needed to do his part within the next month.

This answer, however, didn't seem to satisfy Miss Wenrou.

Her displeasure was still evident, and she said in a blaming tone, "Brother, that's not the way to pursue a girl you like! Constantly holding back won't please anyone."

Su Mengzhen choked, "...Why are you bringing that up again?"

Wenrou's words reminded Su Mengzhen of the blunder he had caused in front of Shi Qingruo.

He coughed twice more to disguise his condition, but the underlying problem was difficult to eradicate, and he coughed uncontrollably for a few more times, only to find a blush of illness spreading across his slightly thin face before finally subsiding.

Seeing this, Wenrou forgot what she had said earlier and took two steps back, like a child awaiting punishment for doing something wrong. "Forget it, I won't say anything. Senior Sister just gave me a few missions, so I'm going to get back to work."

The phrase "getting back to work" sounded a bit strange coming from Wenrou.

But she always felt like the "Little Cold Mountain Swallow" heroine, fighting evil and upholding justice in the martial arts world. Now that Fu Zongshu was so powerful, she naturally wanted to make a name for herself.

Although she had previously disliked relying on her father's reputation when traveling, since Fu Zongshu had the Seven Absolute Swords, the Six Harmonies Azure Dragon, and the Black Light Master, it seemed natural for her to leverage his influence.

She went to write a letter and ask for help!

Of course, in the end, she would have to rely on her own skills to defeat her opponent.

...

Shi Qingruo was completely unaware of Wenrou's current ambitions, or even if she had anticipated them, she didn't take them too seriously.

Having already arranged everything, she focused her attention on her mission.

Honestly, when she first received Gongzi Yu's "declaration of war," she actually considered taking another shortcut.

Previously, she had leveraged the numerous members of the Jinfeng Xiyu Tower within the Misty Heaven Alliance, along with Su Mengzhen's cooperation, to unlock some of the martial arts archives in the system.

That was a necessary step given her limited resources and physical limitations.

She could do the same thing now, perhaps exploiting Ye Gucheng's familiarity with her to negotiate a second marriage, then accuse him of treason and take over Baiyun City herself based on her meritorious reporting.

But setting aside the question of whether Gongzi Yu, watching closely, would allow her to proceed, she felt that such a tactic, since it was a deliberate scheme, would inevitably fail.

The city of Bianjing was already in turmoil. The sudden appearance of Gongzi Yu was an accident, and she didn't want another accident to happen.

So if she wanted to restrain Gongzi Yu, she should use some real skills.

Preferably, it would be a martial art that Shi Qingruo could master quickly.

The famous sword and sword formation that Wang Xiaoshi went to Taihu Lake to find were her backup options, and the place she really wanted to go...

It was five or six days later when a young man, whose face was so dusty that it was difficult to see, stepped into an inn in Xiangyang.

The doorman looked at the horse that this wanderer led into the inn and was a little surprised.

No one knew how fast this man had rushed along the way, but he had even exhausted a fine BMW.

But seeing that the young man had a dagger on his waist, a long sword on his back, and a wooden face that showed no emotion, he knew that he must be an extraordinary person in the world of martial arts. It was common

for people in the martial arts world to travel thousands of miles to save lives and kill people. He couldn't afford to get himself into trouble by saying anything.

Shi Qingruo was quite pleased with the waiter's knowledge and understanding.

As she swallowed her served plain noodles, she pondered her next move.

Fortunately, she had chosen Ye Gucheng as her target in the second round of the game. Not only did she learn excellent swordsmanship from him, but she also unexpectedly discovered that in a game where skills could be read and activated manually, her swordsmanship was quite sharp.

In the real world, there was only one word to describe this situation:

she was a genius with the sword.

However, if she set her sights on the sword and couldn't find a nomadic swordsman, she had only one choice.

Even more fortunate was that she had just arrived in Hubei.

While she was fighting for her life, she also happened to hear that someone had seen a particularly ugly eagle in the nearby mountains.

Even a tiger in the mountains would be spread as a local bully by the timid villagers. But if an eagle had grown to be much taller than a human, and had lived for who knows how many years, its legend would only become more mysterious and magical through word of mouth.

And that was exactly what Shi Qingruo was looking for!

After spending the night in the inn and recovering much of her strength, she packed some meat and pancakes and set out again, following the route she remembered all the way into the mountains, then continuing deeper into the mountains in the direction indicated by the rumors.

Summer vegetation flourished, especially in the sparsely populated areas.

As the human voices faded, the chirping of insects grew increasingly noisy.

Shi Qingruo pondered a guide she had read on a forum while she pulled a pair of poison-proof gloves and a box of incense from her backpack.

After finding a cave to stay in, she lit the incense in the open space in front of it.

Before long, she could hear a rustling sound.

Shi Qingruo drew her sword and swung it towards the grass where the sound had come from. A trace of blood immediately appeared on the sharp blade.

She walked straight toward the end and saw, lying in the grass, the corpses of two venomous snakes.

Anyone in the area would have been astonished.

Deep in the mountains, where snakes, insects, rats, and ants were lurking, she, a lone traveler, had lit an incense not to repel insects but to attract them!

The incense was incredibly potent.

Shi Qingruo was extracting the gallbladder and skinning the recently deceased snake when two ropes suddenly descended from the tall tree overhead and struck at her neck with lightning speed.

But the internal energy coursing through her meridians, thanks to Guan Qi's teachings, was immense, surpassing even the younger generation in the martial arts world. How could she not have noticed these two enemy attacks?

As if she had eyes on her back, she swung the skinning dagger in her hand, slashing through the air with a sharp, cold light that pinned the two snakes to the tree.

One of the pythons was pierced through the head, but it died within moments. The other, struggling, was sliced in half by the dagger and soon fell silent.

Almost as soon as the dagger slipped from her hand, Shi Qingruo snatched up her longsword and swung it again at the bushes behind her.

Another hue of color appeared on the blade.

By nightfall, over thirty more venomous snakes had been found before the cave.

She had placed the gallbladders in a wine jar and soaked them in the alcohol she'd bought from the inn. The skins were left to dry on the nearby trees, leaving only the flesh on the ground.

The scent of the snake blood dissipated the already strong incense, and coupled with the night wind, no new snakes arrived for two hours.

Shi Qingruo pondered for a moment, then decisively extinguished the incense and took a short nap atop a small hill a hundred feet away.

After daybreak, she filled her stomach with water and returned to the spot she'd been at the previous day.

But this time, she didn't use the incense she'd used the previous day. Instead, she piled all the snake carcasses on the ground and lit a fire.

The fragrant aroma of scorched snake flesh quickly filled the area.

The scattered rustling sounds around her faded, replaced by a more subtle, scraping sound across the ground.

She gripped her sword even tighter.

As the first swift shadow swooped toward her, Shi Qingruo was overjoyed to see that this time, the venomous snakes were significantly thicker than the ones from yesterday!

And so...

on the morning of the third day, just as Shi Qingruo was about to reach for the carcasses and repeat her previous act, a hideous head suddenly burst forth from the pile.

Her gaze shifted, and instinctively, her sword slashed with a shimmering, frosty wind, striking the cunning giant.

To her surprise and delight, the giant snake wasn't directly severed in two by the sword. Instead, upon impact with the longsword, a resounding clash of metal and steel erupted.

Shi Qingruo didn't have time to bother with the three broken pieces in her sword. She spun quickly, dodging the snake's sweeping tail.

The pain from the sword's blow, compounded by the surrounding swarm of dead snakes, caused the snake to open its mouth with a sharp clatter. Its head shot out like a dart, aiming for Shi Qingruo's throat.

But in its sight, the apparently slender figure suddenly swelled several times over, and a beam of white light, as brilliant as the sun, emanated from her hand.

As she tried to dodge, the white light, carrying the broken sword along with it, pierced her skull.

The giant snake, struck with a fatal blow, tumbled down, writhing in agony among the rocks and grass, hoping to kill the damned human with its final frenzy.

However, Shi Qingruo, relying on her lightness skills, had already stood more than ten feet away.

Only when the giant snake completely stopped moving did she approach it with a dagger and a casually picked up branch, confirming that the giant snake, summoned by her "disciples" for revenge, had indeed stopped breathing.

She took a deep breath, raised her dagger, and cut down along the snake's head, which had just been split open by the sword.

Halfway through, she suddenly saw a faint purple light like smoke and mist hidden in the blood below. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she became even more cautious in her movements.

Perhaps because her earlier swing had intimidated the sword hidden within the snake's belly, the purple light shone only briefly, carrying a chilling chill before slowly fading until she had completely extracted the three-foot-long, purple-tinged sword from the snake's belly.

This wasn't just a divine weapon, it was a divine weapon even more akin to a "soft sword" than the golden-red sword!

Shi Qingruo carefully grasped the hilt through her gloves. She could even feel the divine weapon, which had previously roamed within the giant snake's belly, tremble slightly before calming down.

Without hesitation, she seized the long purple rainbow and headed for a nearby pool, washing away the snake's blood and venom.

After washing in clean water, the sword finally revealed its true form.

Also becoming clear were the two seal characters "written" in gold thread on the hilt.

"Ziwei..."

Ziwei Soft Sword!

As she uttered these two words, a resounding bird song suddenly echoed in the distance.

Shi Qingruo looked up and saw an extremely ugly eagle flapping its wings and rushing towards her.

Ordinary eagles can be described as heroic and beautiful, but the one in front of her not only did not fly in the air, but its black and yellow feathers were also sparse, as if half of them had been plucked out, and there was a large blood-red tumor on its head. It looked clumsy and weird no matter how you looked at it.

She had never seen such an ugly bird in her life!

But when it stopped in front of Shi Qingruo, she seemed to see a touch of humanistic spirit in the eyes of this seemingly ugly and stupid eagle.

It moved its feet, raised its wings, and strode proudly among the corpses of the poisonous snakes. It finally stopped in front of Shi Qingruo, who was holding the Ziwei Sword, and shook its head at her.

Shi Qingruo pointed at herself, "...You want me to follow you?"

This didn't seem to be something to be doubted.

She caught up with the eagle and heard its excited cry, as if applauding her earlier actions.

This was certainly no ordinary eagle. Though it couldn't fly, it navigated the mountains and forests as if it were flat ground, using its wings and sharp beak to break through any impassable terrain.

In just a stick of incense, it had led Shi Qingruo to a large cave, a considerable distance from where they had been.

Seeing Shi Qingruo politely perform the rituals of greeting an elder at the cave entrance, the eagle grew even more delighted, nibbling the corner of her clothes and heading inside.

But the cave was deserted, save for a dusty stone table and bench. On the pile of rocks in the corner, however, there was no trace of a cobweb. Instead, a few fresh branches lay in front, as if they had been carefully tended.

Shi Qingruo lit the fire stick in her sleeve and looked at the place in the cave where there were hidden words. She saw that there were a few lines of words carved there with a sword.

She read out loud while carefully identifying them:

"I have been roaming the world for more than thirty years, killing all enemies and defeating all heroes. There is no one in the world who can resist me. I have no choice but to live in seclusion in the deep valley and make eagles my friends. Alas, I have never been able to find an opponent in my life. It is really lonely and embarrassing." ①

The signature is six words -

"Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai."

The author has something to say:

① From "The Return of the Condor Heroes"

Speaking of Ziwei Soft Sword, there was a mobile game called Mengjianji in the past. I quite like Ziwei's portrait (has this game been sacrificed...) (Enough, how much have I played)

See you tomorrow night at six o'clock. No more updates today, just over 9,000!