I only knew that villains had been causing trouble recently, but I didn't know what the "Four Great Villains" were, so I curiously asked Liu Shi Nian.
"Are the Four Great Villains a big deal?"
"I once heard my master say that a thousand years ago, a group of villains who existed by martial arts suddenly emerged from the northwestern desert.
Wherever they went, there was no peace, and countless people died. My master once lost a move to someone named Ye Changfeng."
"That powerful."
"To be able to stand out among the many masters at that time is enough to show how terrifying their strength was."
"Then you still..."
Since they were so terrifying, Liu Shi Nian still stepped forward to shield me.
He hurriedly interrupted me and said.
"If I can't beat him later, you run quickly."
"How can I abandon you?"
He patted my shoulder and said earnestly.
"Black Mountain needs you, so you cannot be harmed."
I looked at him, and for a moment, an inexplicable sadness welled up in my heart.
The person opposite watched us whispering for a while, completely ignoring their presence.
Ye Changfeng was a little angry and shouted.
"Hey, hey, hey, are you done talking? To tell you the truth, I came to challenge you.
I heard you are now a rare master in the world, I wonder if you can defeat me, make your move."
Liu Shi Nian drew his sword and flung it out. The sword body hung in mid-air. He swung it hard, and the sword body split into countless swords that attacked Ye Changfeng.
The people on the side immediately dodged, making space for him. Ye Changfeng looked disdainful, raised his sword and swung, and a powerful sword energy surged out, shattering the illusions of the "Liu Swords."
Liu Shi Nian flew forward to catch the Liu Swords and thrust straight. Ye Changfeng raised his sword and met it, striking the Liu Sword's body.
In an instant, Liu Shi Nian felt a powerful shockwave that almost made him drop his sword.
Liu Shi Nian landed sideways. Just as he was about to get up, he felt a chill behind him. It turned out that the outcome had been decided, and Ye Changfeng's sword was pointed at the back of his head.
Gui Ye, who was on the side, saw the clue and said indifferently.
"He is not the Myriad Ghost King."
Ye Changfeng only then reacted, sheathed his sword, and recalled.
"I heard the Myriad Ghost King is a strong person in this world, definitely not at this level, but I seem to have seen your moves somewhere."
Gui Ye helped him recall.
"Isn't this the Liu style swordplay that competed with Big Brother a thousand years ago?"
"Oh, no wonder it feels so familiar."
He then remembered and asked the person in front of him.
"You kid, you're not afraid of death, tell me, what is your relationship with the Myriad Ghost King?"
Liu Shi Nian suddenly burst into laughter and acted shamelessly.
"The Myriad Ghost King is someone everyone wants to defeat. I am naturally playful, so I just said it casually."
"Ah, you really are, wasting my time."
Fu Zimo asked his elder brother.
"Big Brother, should we let them go?"
"Since it's not the person I'm looking for, let him go. After all, we are principled villains."
Saying that, he picked up his sword again, turned around and left with large strides, and the people behind him quickly followed.
Seeing them leave, I hurried to ask Liu Shi Nian.
"Are you injured?"
Liu Shi Nian shook his head.
"No."
"I didn't expect that person's strength to be so formidable. Fortunately, he is a person who respects martial ethics, otherwise you would have been in real danger."
He smiled slightly and patted my shoulder.
"Don't worry, my master told me that they usually don't kill people weaker than themselves, so that's why I said that."
"You didn't tell me earlier, you made me worry for so long."
"It happened suddenly, it's good that you're okay, otherwise how would I explain it to the elders when I get back."
"I'll take care of myself, but we should go back quickly."
"Okay."
So we hurried back and soon returned to Black Mountain.
After returning to Black Mountain, I told Lin Er about what happened at the foot of the mountain. He was also shocked, but quickly calmed down.
"Ghost King, what do you plan to do?"
He asked for my thoughts.
I thought for a moment and said.
"My strength should not be inferior to that person, but now, Black Mountain is not yet stable, and we cannot confront them head-on."
"In that case, let's send Xue Ruyi to disrupt their attention."
I had the same idea, and I didn't expect him to think the same as me.
"Okay, let's do as the elder said."
He gestured outwards with his hand, and in an instant, a man in black flashed in and knelt before the main hall.
Lin Er said.
"Go and tell Xue Ruyi to spread false news about the Ghost King and create a false impression by sending people to the border."
"Yes."
The man in black received the order and retreated in a hurry.
I also felt relieved, hit my leg, and stood up.
"I've been too tired these past few days, I'm going back to rest. Elder, you should also rest early."
"Okay."
So, without bothering with Lin Er, I got up and returned to the backyard.
Liu Shi Nian, however, was not as tired as I was. He was as idle as ever, lying on the rooftop and drinking wine.
He tilted his head slightly and glimpsed me returning to my room. He turned his head back, and his eyes showed a hint of melancholy again. I don't know if it was longing for that person.
"Why are you drinking alone? You didn't call me."
He turned his head back and saw Xue Gu Cheng and Yan Wu Shuang standing in the corridor.
That white attire, just like the snow he saw at Wan Xue Mountain that night.
Liu Shi Nian casually threw the wine bottle down. Xue Gu Cheng raised his hand to catch it, took a big gulp, and then flew onto the rooftop with Yan Wu Shuang.
Liu Shi Nian smiled and asked them.
"Are you two here to drink with me?"
Yan Wu Shuang picked up the wine bottle herself, took a big gulp, and replied.
"This wine is good, but it's too lonely to drink alone."
Liu Shi Nian smiled charmingly and teased her.
"This is not good for you, you are a girl after all. It's not proper for me and Xue Gu Cheng to share a pot of wine with you."
Yan Wu Shuang covered her face and chuckled. Xue Gu Cheng waved his hand and replied.
"It doesn't matter, as long as Shuang'er is happy."
Liu Shi Nian pouted slightly and said with some disdain.
"Ugh, this damned affection is overflowing onto my face."
"You're not bad either. Which girl doesn't get dizzy when they see you?"
"That's true, hahaha."
The three of them smiled at each other and drank another pot of wine together.
Dao Lang and Fei Xiong walked towards the backyard with worry. As they passed under Liu Shi Nian's building, he suddenly called out to them.
"Where are you going?"
The two stopped and looked up, seeing the three of them drinking in broad daylight, so they retorted.
"What are you three doing there?"
Yan Wu Shuang replied with a smile.
"We are drinking, would you like to join us?"
"No, we have other things to do."
"Seeing you in such a hurry, did something happen?"
Dao Lang said.
"Not really, it's just that my brother and I have been staying in Black Mountain all day with nothing to do, and we want to ask Mu Ye for a task to go down the mountain and move around."
"Hahaha, you still can't stay put, I knew you would leave."
Liu Shi Nian teased.
"We are used to living a life of wandering the world. Suddenly settling down makes us a bit unaccustomed, and we still prefer to wander around."
"Will you come back then?"
Xue Gu Cheng said.
"We're not leaving, we're just asking for a task to go down the mountain for fun, and we'll be back in a few days."
Fei Xiong replied with a smile.
"Since that's the case, then you go."
"Then we're leaving, you drink slowly."
Dao Lang and Fei Xiong said goodbye to the three of Liu Shi Nian and walked all the way to the garden. They arrived in front of my three-story independent building.
Looking up, they felt a bit embarrassed.
Fei Xiong asked Dao Lang with some hesitation.
"Second Brother, do you think Mu Ye will let us go down the mountain?"
"It should be possible."
"What if she disagrees?"
"She won't, just talk to her."
So the two of them bravely went upstairs. They knew that the two armies were currently in a state of hostility.
If they rashly went down the mountain, they might be suspected of being traitors who defected.
If that were the case, it would be difficult to know what to do, so they went upstairs with uneasy hearts and arrived at the door.
After hesitating for a moment, they knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
Hearing the voice from inside, Dao Lang quickly said.
"It's me, Dao Lang."
"Come in."
The two pushed the door open and walked in, only to see me sitting by the table leisurely sipping tea.
"Brother Dao Lang, Brother Fei Xiong, is there anything?"
The two had thought about what to say downstairs for a long time, but suddenly didn't know how to start.
So they stealthily nudged each other with their hands, neither daring to speak first.
Seeing them hesitate, I knew they must be bored of staying in Black Mountain for too long and wanted to go down the mountain, but they were worried that I would associate them with the previous traitor.
So I asked first.
"Black Mountain is not a big place, yet so many people live here. I get bored living here, do you feel bored?"
Hearing me say this, Dao Lang's hanging heart finally settled down, and he said.
"Actually, we think the same way. We haven't been able to go anywhere except stay in Black Mountain during this period, so we feel bored."
Fei Xiong also echoed.
"Yes, yes, we are used to running around. Suddenly settling down, we can't stay put after a few days."
"Then what are your thoughts?"
"I think if you give us a errand, we can go down the mountain to move around."
Dao Lang finally said it, and all the previous worries vanished into thin air.
"So that's how it is, why didn't you say it earlier? You don't have any other ideas, do you?"
Seeing me tease them, the two hurriedly said.
"No, no."
I thought about it again, and there was indeed a task that suited them.
Now Lin Er has established the Shadow Guard, and Xue Ruyi has become the head of the Shadow Guard.
Although they are ambushed in the world to collect intelligence, things are constantly changing, and some matters may be difficult for them to handle.
Dao Lang and Fei Xiong are experienced and knowledgeable, so there is nothing they cannot handle. If they are sent to help, it might be a good thing.
So I said.
"I do have a task that I can give you."
"What is it?"
"Brother Dao Lang, come here."
I signaled Dao Lang to lower his head and whispered in his ear.
After listening, he also felt it was good.
"Then let's do it this way."
"Okay, then you can go down the mountain."
"Then we're leaving."
"Go ahead."
The two happily withdrew from my room, their faces beaming, and walked towards the mountain gate. They happened to pass by the building where Liu Shi Nian and the other two were.
Liu Shi Nian saw the two returning with smiles, and knew that it was done. He said.
"Are you going down the mountain?"
Dao Lang looked up and saw them drinking again, so he smiled.
"It's done, I have to go."
Seeing them about to go down the mountain, Liu Shi Nian felt a little reluctant.
"I originally wanted to wait for you, but I'm afraid there won't be a chance."
"Then wait for us to come back."
"Okay, when you come back, we'll have a good drink."
"Okay, it's a deal."
"It's a deal, we're leaving."
"Go."
The two said goodbye to the three of them again and walked down the mountain.
...
At the foot of the desolate Black Mountain, a figure was lurking suspiciously. Looking up at the mountain, he saw Dao Lang and Fei Xiong coming down.
And this person was Gan Jiang, who had been driven out of the mountain before.
Now, his face was weathered, and in just a few days, he looked a hundred years older.
His eyes were filled with unwillingness, his palms were clenched tightly, and his mouth was full of resentment.
"Since you are so cruel to drive me away, then don't blame me for being ruthless."
After saying these harsh words, he turned and headed for Nan Hai City without looking back.
He traveled day and night, and after an unknown amount of time, he arrived outside Nan Hai City, by the moat.
At this moment, he suddenly saw a man in white standing gracefully, his back to him, by the river.
He hurried forward, knelt down, and recounted his hardships of the past few days with a bitter expression.
"Lord Jin, I did as you said, but I didn't expect that Liu Mu Ye, that little girl with yellow hair, saw through my identity and drove me down the mountain."
Jin Yu Lan listened without any sympathy, and only asked coldly.
"Didn't she want to kill you?"
"She did, but fortunately, my young master saved me with his life, and only then did she drive me down the mountain."
"She is indeed soft-hearted."
"I have nowhere to go now, so I can only come to seek refuge with you, my lord. You must take me in."
Jin Yu Lan originally wanted to abandon this burden, but then he thought, what would happen if the people of Black Mountain saw that the traitor they had shown mercy to, and then turned against them?
They would probably be so angry that they would spit blood and regret it. Thinking of this, he found it quite amusing.
So he said.
"I do have a task that I can assign to you."
"Thank you, my lord."
"Follow me."
"Yes."
Jin Yu Lan took him back to Nan Hai City and arranged for him to be a minor guard captain in the military camp.
Then he returned to Qian Ji Hall. As soon as he entered the room, a figure in red caught his eye.
"My lord."
Jin Yu Lan bowed slightly, immediately becoming respectful.
"The Four Great Villains are really a bit stupid. I originally wanted to use them to disrupt the world, but unexpectedly, they are running all over the world chasing the Myriad Ghost King."
Jin Yu Lan said.
"These villains only know how to wield swords and spears, they have no intention of doing anything else."
"In that case, you still need to guide them."
"Yes."
"There's one more thing."
Liu Xiang suddenly thought of something.
"It's time to give Liu Mu Ye some trouble."
"What does my lord intend to do?"
Liu Xiang didn't say much, but left a meaningful sentence.
"Someone has to sacrifice for this."
After saying that, he turned and left without looking back, leaving Jin Yu Lan stunned on the spot.
"Someone has to sacrifice for this?"
He pondered carefully. It seemed that the only one currently connected to Nan Hai City was Liu Shi Nian, and the only one who could influence Liu Shi Nian was Xue Ji.
However, Xue Ji had followed him for many years, and their relationship was very good, almost like siblings.
Now, to use Xue Ji to destroy Liu Shi Nian, he felt reluctant.
However, Liu Xiang's orders were absolute, and he could not disobey them. After thinking for a long time, until late at night, he finally made the decision.
At night, he ordered someone to summon Xue Ji to the VIP room on the top floor. He had something to tell her.
The messenger quickly conveyed the message to Xue Ji. Xue Ji heard it, and with light steps, she went to the top floor and gently pushed open the door.
Jin Yu Lan, unusually, sat behind the screen.
"My lord, you were looking for me?"
Xue Ji said.
"I have something for you to do."
"What is it?"
"Go and see Liu Shi Nian."
A flicker of doubt flashed in her eyes, but she still chose to believe Jin Yu Lan.
Jin Yu Lan took out a love token from his sleeve, which Liu Shi Nian had asked him to give to Xue Ji when they first met fifty years ago.
"Brocade Handkerchief."
The handkerchief was embroidered with a poem that Liu Shi Nian had learned from somewhere.
"Once the vast sea is hard to be water, and outside of Wu Mountain there is no cloud."
He tossed the handkerchief, and it fell into Xue Ji's palm. Xue Ji looked at the brocade handkerchief in her hand and smiled knowingly.
She slowly bowed and kowtowed to Jin Yu Lan before getting up and leaving.