【Note: Shoubei, the Abbot of the Dragon-Subduing Temple of the Yan State, divined the 『Diaohai Blessed Land』 in his early years using the Destiny Mystic Method, 『Heart-Dhuta Decree』!】
【The deduction revealed that the Blessed Land's Child of Destiny, 'Xiao Wu', is by nature heroic, open-minded, fierce, and resolute. His destiny and temperament both perfectly align with the Buddhist teachings of the Dragon-Subduing Temple.】
【Shoubei then used the Destiny Mystic Method to manipulate the Dragon-Subduing Temple's subordinate temple 'sinful monk, Blood Dhuta' to travel far to the Qi State and lurk at Chenjian Dock on Cloudwater Lake to entangle himself with destiny!】
【At present, he is shrouding the heavenly secrets with the Destiny Mystic Method, secretly ordering 'Shouchong' to head south to the Qi State. While ostensibly sent to capture the 'sinful monk, Blood Dhuta', his true motive is to seek an opportunity to convert Xiao Wu, intending to lure him back to the Yan State to shave his head and cultivate Buddhism!】
“Blood Dhuta!”
Shen Xiuhan's pupils contracted as a tempest of shock surged in his heart. His eyes were filled with sheer disbelief.
‘To think the Second Chief of Chenjian Dock was actually a chess piece placed by the Dragon-Subduing Temple of the Yan State years ago...’
‘They divined the opening date of the 『Diaohai Blessed Land』 long ago and specially sent someone to lie low around Cloudwater Lake...’
‘But the question is, how could they be so sure that Blood Dhuta would definitely entangle himself with destiny?’
Shen Xiuhan knitted his brows, racking his brain. Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him, causing his eyes to widen instantly.
‘I remember now!’
‘That night, when Duan Xiao fought Master in Changyun County, he used a rare Buddhist martial technique...’
‘That fist technique... seemed to be called the 『Thousand-Hand Dragon-Subduing Fist』?!’
‘Thousand-Hand Dragon-Subduing Fist... Dragon-Subduing Temple...’
Shen Xiuhan's heart hammered wildly as the realization dawned on him.
‘Within the borders of the Great Qi, martial arts flourish, while Buddhist heritages are extremely rare. How could a mere water bandit like Duan Xiao learn a Buddhist martial technique?’
‘Blood Dhuta must have taught it to him on purpose!’
‘Even if it wasn't intentional, it must have been bestowed upon him under the manipulation of that Destiny Mystic Method...’
‘Destiny Mystic Method... it sounds very similar to a Destiny Divine Ability!’
‘As expected, it was a set-up from the very beginning!’
‘Duan Xiao colluded with the Bai family to kidnap young boys and girls to refine human pills, terrorizing the region. He was merely a clown on a stage, destined to clash with the Child of Destiny who loathed evil...’
‘Therefore, the moment Xiao Wu took action against Chenjian Dock, Blood Dhuta naturally became entangled with destiny!’
‘Then, the Dragon-Subduing Temple sent Shouchong under the guise of capturing the “sinful monk,” but in reality, they were just playing along to seize the opportunity to convert Xiao Wu...’
‘Even if they failed to convert Xiao Wu, they would still reclaim a Blood Dhuta who was entangled with destiny. It was a guaranteed win either way!’
“Phew...”
Shen Xiuhan exhaled slowly, a sharp light flickering in his eyes as he pieced every detail together.
‘Shoubei of the Dragon-Subduing Temple laid down this chess piece and set up the board years ago. With every step interlocking seamlessly, this person's methods are incredibly far-reaching, and his mind is astonishingly meticulous!’
After a moment of turbulent emotions, Shen Xiuhan gradually calmed down. Committing the intelligence to memory, he looked down at the next entry.
【Intelligence 4: Before wiping out the Bai family, Xiao Wu met with Wang Lin alone, mentioning that after destroying the Bai family, he wished to use Wang Lin's connections in the Longxiang Army to lie low temporarily. Currently, Xiao Wu, Xiao Wen, and Song Huatang have all entered the Longxiang Army to temper themselves.】
【Xiao Wu's cultivation has reached the Great Perfection of the Anjin Rank, and breaking through to the Huajin Rank is only a thought away. However, his destiny has repeatedly warned him: when Huajin opens, body and soul perish. Therefore, he has suppressed his cultivation, resolutely refusing to break through the Huajin Barrier!】
‘Xiao Wu... went to the Longxiang Army?!’
Shen Xiuhan's gaze filled with astonishment as he slowly began to understand.
‘No wonder I couldn't find any trace of Xiao Wu even through the 『Four Seas Heart-Linking Disc』 after we parted in Changyun. It turns out he ran off to the border.’
But as this thought turned over, his brow furrowed:
‘But isn't this like walking straight into a trap?’
‘Zhendong General Wang Zhifan, along with the entire Wang family, have designs on the Diaohai Blessed Land and the Child of Destiny that are as clear as day.’
‘Xiao Wu joining the Longxiang Army is equivalent to delivering himself right under Wang Zhifan's nose...’
‘Destiny warns Xiao Wu that he cannot break through to Huajin... So what will happen once he breaks through the Huajin Barrier?’
Shen Xiuhan felt an inexplicable chill wrap around his heart, refusing to dissipate.
‘Forget it... regardless, I will definitely see Xiao Wu on the day the Blessed Land opens. I can just find an opportunity to tell him everything then...’
...
Six Cangwu Demons minus five equals one remaining—the third day.
In the blink of an eye.
Three days flashed by.
In the small courtyard, the autumn wind rustled the leaves.
A woman dressed in a crimson, belted long dress with a slender, sheathed sword hanging at her waist walked to the courtyard gate, turning back with a smile:
“Junior Brother, there's no need to see me out. If you ever need to refine any pills in the future, just come find me. Your Senior Sister might be mediocre in other areas, but the Elixir Dao is the one thing I'm decent at.”
The woman was named Zheng Hongxiu, Wen Qingye's fourth disciple. She had a cheerful personality and was very easy to get along with.
“Thank you, Senior Sister. I'll keep that in mind. If I have to trouble you in the future, please bear with me,” Shen Xiuhan said, cupping his hands.
“Heh, don't be so polite. It's only natural for fellow disciples to watch out for one another.”
At this point, Zheng Hongxiu shifted the topic, a mischievous glint flashing in her beautiful eyes as she patted the slender sword at her waist:
“Of course, don't come to me for advice on swordplay. Your Senior Sister's meager skills can't possibly teach the 'Moonlight Sword' who has taken the prefecture capital by storm!”
Standing under the eaves, Shen Xiuhan massaged his temples with a slight headache, smiling wryly:
“Senior Sister Zheng, please don't tease me with that empty title...”
“Hahaha, alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you. I still have medicine warming in my furnace. I'm off, let's chat next time!”
With a wave of her hand, she left behind a trail of silver-bell-like laughter, departing gracefully with a gust of fragrant wind.
Watching her leave, Shen Xiuhan let out a long sigh, feeling utterly helpless.
Over the past two days.
The threshold of his once quiet little courtyard had been nearly worn down.
Since the battle on the eastern shore of Thousand Pools Island, Shen Xiuhan had slain five of the Six Cangwu Demons single-handedly with his sword, and was subsequently accepted as a core disciple by Wen Qingye. These events were like throwing a boulder into a lake, spreading across the entire Nanxiang prefecture capital in just two short days!
Now, in every major teahouse and tavern across the prefecture capital, storytellers would slap their gavels and immediately launch into tales about him.
“As those six great demons landed on the island, plotting to collude with a traitor and steal the Precious Fish, at the absolute critical moment, that youth in green robes, Shen Xiuhan, roared like a sudden clap of spring thunder, shouting, 'Halt! How dare you demonic scoundrels!'”
“In the next instant, his sword lunged like a dragon! Wherever his sword-glow passed, frost filled the air, leaving a trail of rolling heads and staining the river blood-red...”
The tea-drinking patrons below listened in rapture, slapping the tables and cheering as tips rained down like water.
Later, it was unknown who first coined the nickname.
Because his sword-glow was pure white like pouring moonlight, he was called—
The Moonlight Sword!
Once this nickname emerged, it spread like wildfire.
It even stirred up a massive storm across the Four Academies of Star-Plucking, causing countless inner court disciples to swarm over!
Some came bearing gifts, hoping to familiarize themselves with him;
while even more wished to see with their own eyes whether this 'Moonlight Sword'—who had single-handedly defeated five demonic experts—truly lived up to his reputation.
Shen Xiuhan had been receiving guests for two consecutive days. His face was nearly stiff from smiling, and even his cultivation time had been squeezed into fragments.
Having finally sent off Zheng Hongxiu, he immediately packed his bags:
“I can't delay any longer. While no one is around, I must immediately set off for Thousand Pools Island to lie low...”
Just as the thought crossed his mind,
knock, knock, knock.
Another knock sounded from outside the courtyard gate, causing Shen Xiuhan to pause and sigh helplessly.
Walking to the gate, he reached out and pulled it open.
When he saw clearly the figure standing outside, Shen Xiuhan was momentarily stunned and blurted out:
“Ji Xue?!”
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