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When Xin Tiecheng saw the soldiers winding down the mountain path, he knew things were going to be troublesome today.

Around Green Wood Fortress (Qingmu Zhai), various Green Ridge (Lv Liang) bandits gathered, and small-time operators with some strength also flocked in. The specifics weren't entirely clear to them, but with such a large gathering, something was bound to happen. Similar things had occurred before. Once a bandit stronghold in Green Ridge Mountain grew too powerful, it would alarm everyone, often leading to a bad end. People would gather to tear the stronghold apart, and the small-time operators would swarm like hyenas, hoping to snatch some benefit.

The prosperity of Green Wood Fortress had long made the surrounding Green Ridge people envious, and this time, they gathered with similar expectations. Later, the largest bandit gangs each sent envoys, and from the gathered small-time operators, they selected a few of the more well-known to follow along, to negotiate with the Blood Bodhisattva of Green Wood Fortress. Xin Tiecheng was one of them.

As a somewhat famous hero in Green Ridge Mountain, Xin Tiecheng had some goodwill towards Green Wood Fortress. His martial arts were only mid-to-upper level in Green Ridge, but he knew many people. After Green Wood Fortress developed, he occasionally sold things there to supplement his living. This time, he hoped that Green Wood Fortress could get through this, and preferably that he could get through it safely as well. However, as he watched the soldiers rushing down the mountainside from Green Wood Fortress in the evening, he knew things were going badly.

Then came a hearty laugh that made his heart tremble, a laugh filled with power that left all the Green Ridge experts he knew far behind.

That was the Grand Brightness Sect Leader (Da Guangming Jiao Zhu), Lin Zongwu, rumored to be comparable to Zhou Tong, the number one person under Heaven...

As a wandering hero who came upon hearing the news, Xin Tiecheng hadn't had a clear understanding of the whole story regarding Green Wood Fortress. The story given by people like the Chaos Mountain King (Luan Shan Wang) and Black Skull King (Hei Kulu Wang) was that Green Wood Fortress wanted to monopolize the imperial court's benefits, but after reaching the mountain, He Zhong, a swordsman he knew, roughly explained the situation to him.

The imperial court's amnesty edict and a large gathering of outsiders, each with an even more impressive background, had all seen the benefits here and come to cooperate. The Chaos Mountain King and others had noticed this, gathered men to force a palace coup, and in the end, the slightly developed Green Wood Fortress was being threatened from all sides in this gap. Such a lineup was something that neither Green Wood Fortress nor the Blood Bodhisattva could withstand.

If Green Wood Fortress knew what was good for them, perhaps they would be divided up more slowly. If they didn't know what was good for them, perhaps they would face annihilation right now. However, these major benefits were actually being worried about by the envoys sent by the Chaos Mountain King and others—or perhaps even they weren't qualified to worry about them. What truly concerned this group of envoys was not how much they could gain, but whether they could survive tonight. If such a scene, filled with so many big shots, truly erupted, they would be crushed like they were caught in a storm.

His friend, He Zhong, had reason to worry. After reaching the mountain, Xin Tiecheng felt this pressure. When he saw the soldiers rushing down the mountain in the evening, his heart sank. There were about 1,200 soldiers gathered in front of Green Wood Fortress's square, but the formation was swift and orderly. The cavalry and soldiers had rattan armor and sharp sabers and spears. Their morale was high and completely different from ordinary Green Ridge bandits. Xin Tiecheng hadn't expected Green Wood Fortress to have this kind of strength, but the signal it represented by bringing it out now was especially clear: this feast would not be a pleasant one.

The 1,200-plus men formed a square formation, and after several shouts filled with killing intent, led by the cavalry, they quickly exited the fortress gate. Then Xin Tiecheng saw some big shots arrive, including the Grand Brightness Sect Leader. This man was tall and large, shaped like Maitreya, with a friendly smile, but his steps were steady as a mountain, and his aura was integrated with his surroundings. Xin Tiecheng estimated that with the inner power cultivation he had just displayed, if he rushed up, the other party would only need one punch to knock him down, never to rise again. The immense force that would be unleashed with such a figure would be impossible for him to block, even with all his skills.

As for the Blood Bodhisattva—he had seen her once—how could she possibly contend with such a top-tier master, even if she had made a fearsome name for herself in Green Ridge Mountain?

Thinking this way, he followed the others into the gathering hall. First, there was a spacious courtyard, then corridors and halls with high eaves, all brightly lit. The moment he stepped into the hall, Xin Tiecheng felt the surrounding lights sway. Lin Zongwu's originally friendly figure suddenly seemed to expand. The light shone on him, and the shadows cast around him grew darker. An image of a demonic god arose in his mind... This impression dissipated in an instant. Xin Tiecheng glanced at He Zhong next to him and vaguely understood that this was a grandmaster using his aura to seize people's souls.

Then, they heard the Blood Bodhisattva say from the end of the hall, "Distinguished guests have come from afar, Lu has been remiss. Please take your seats." Although the words were simple, they vaguely diluted the pressure Lin Zongwu had just caused.

Lin Zongwu then laughed and said, "Blood Bodhisattva of Green Ridge, I have long admired you. And... Ning Ren Tu, long time no see."

In the simple laughter were the greetings of those powerful figures. He Zhong and Xin Tiecheng were arranged at a round table below. Above them in the hall were many single tables and seats. As they took their seats, He Zhong pointed them out one by one, introducing the people who had come. For example, a wealthy man who had many industries in both Hedong and Hebei, a military vice general who guarded Yanmen Pass in the east, and an envoy sent by Commander-in-Chief Dong Pang'er… But the two most powerful people were undoubtedly Sect Leader Lin and the young man sitting across from him.

Although he looked only in his early twenties, this scholar-like man had an aura that was completely on par with Lin Zongwu, who was sitting directly opposite him. According to He Zhong's introduction, this man was one of the most important leaders in the imperial court's Secret Intelligence Division. His direct superior was the current prime minister. In the martial world outside Green Ridge Mountain, countless green forest heroes turned pale at the mention of him. Some called him Mind Demon (Xin Mo), and he also had a more brutal nickname called Bloodhand Butcher. It was also rumored that during last year's famine in the south, he faced countless merchants of half of the Wu Dynasty single-handedly. Wealthy men like He Yuanwai could only be considered one of them, and in the end, he still beat them into a sorry state.

With people of this background present, envoys like Chen Jiu, sent by the Chaos Mountain King, and Luan Ku'er, sent by the Black Skull King, might still have some reputation in Green Ridge, but at the moment, they were truly insignificant shrimp.

And at the very end of the hall were the Blood Bodhisattva, who had built such a large enterprise as a woman, the two leaders of Green Wood Fortress, and the old man with a cane. Relatively speaking, they were naturally not comparable to these people, but being able to sit here with them in a tri-party balance as Green Ridge people gave Xin Tiecheng a sense of pride for a moment. It was just a pity that if the negotiations failed today, everything would be over.

After the banquet began, everyone exchanged pleasantries and discussed some serious matters. Xin Tiecheng mostly didn't understand, but he felt that they were talking about very important things.

"... I didn't expect that Sect Leader Lin and Ning Ren Tu would have an old acquaintance?"

"... We had a skirmish some time ago. The flood swept the Dragon King Temple. Sect Leader Lin, you wouldn't still remember, would you?"

"The matter was just a small thing, but I will never forget Ning Ren Tu's grace."

"Me too."

"If not for Qi Gongxiang, I would have wanted to visit Ning Ren Tu in the capital long ago..."

"It wouldn't be to find me for a martial arts competition, would it... I'm not saying you, Sect Leader Lin, but this habit of yours of challenging people to martial arts is really unacceptable..."

"Among martial artists, it's natural to be eager to test each other's skills. A friendly exchange, without hurting harmony..."

"I heard you're looking for Zhou Tong. I saw him not long ago. Look at Senior Zhou. Although he's an old man, he's been running around everywhere for disaster relief and saving people. He doesn't have the habit of martial arts competitions... The great hero serves the country and the people and should consider the well-being of the world..."

"Oh, where is he?"

"Tao Pavilion (Tao Ting)."

"Tao Pavilion... Ning Ren Tu indiscriminately killed more than a hundred people and arrested more than a hundred people there, including many famous heroes of the green forest. Is this also for the sake of the world?"

"Heroes use martial arts to break the law. They rely on their martial arts to fight and kill everywhere. That's what's really indiscriminate... They even ran to the capital to cause trouble. Of course, I dealt with them for the sake of the people..."

"I am also here for the sake of the people... I just want to set up a few temples in Green Ridge to provide medical treatment and medicine."

"Welcome!"

"However, looking at the current situation in Green Ridge, some people have also asked me to bring a few words to help persuade..."

"It seems that Sect Leader Lin has also become a businessman?"

"All under heaven bustle about for profit; benefit can bring peace, and when the heart is at peace, it can avoid the suffering of the people. I am here only to spread the teachings of my Grand Brightness Sect, teaching people to be good and avoid evil, but after coming here, I also have some ideas that I would like to discuss with Blood Bodhisattva..."

"Sect Leader Lin, please speak freely."

The hall was filled with a buzzing sound, sometimes sharp, sometimes friendly, but no one mentioned the thousand or so soldiers who had gone down the mountain earlier. They must have confronted the Chaos Mountain King and others, and no one knew what the situation was. Xin Tiecheng said to He Zhong in a low voice, "If Blood Bodhisattva Lu and this Sect Leader Lin really fight, what are the chances of winning?"

He Zhong shook his head. Xin Tiecheng said, "Why not Ning Ren Tu and Lin Zongwu?"

He Zhong said, "Ning Ren Tu's martial arts are probably not high. Besides, there are many other reasons..."

"His martial arts are not high, but he can make people so fearful..."

Xin Tiecheng said this, feeling complicated. The banquet had been going on for some time, and suddenly they heard Lin Zongwu say, "... Of course, other matters can be put aside for the time being. I am just a闲人 (xian ren - idle person), and I am here only to spread my Grand Brightness teachings. On the other hand, I have heard that the Blood Bodhisattva of Green Ridge has profound martial arts, and although she is a woman, she is no less impressive than a man, truly a generation of grandmasters. I am obsessed with martial arts all my life and would like to ask Miss Lu to be generous in guiding me. We can exchange martial arts skills and stop when we've made our point. I wonder what Miss Lu thinks."

Xin Tiecheng was shocked, knowing that the main event was coming. Lu Hongti nodded with a smile and was about to speak when Ning Yi said, "Just now we were saying that Sect Leader Lin challenges people everywhere. This habit is not good. At this time... I don't see the need for this, do you?"

Lin Zongwu laughed heartily, "Lovers of martial arts exchange skills with each other. This is out of love and testing of skills. Ning Ren Tu, your ambitions are not in this, so I didn't refute you just now. This invitation is, with all due respect, just a private matter between me and Miss Lu and has nothing to do with Ning Ren Tu, does it?"

Lu Hongti said, "What Ning Ren Tu says can also be taken as my meaning."

Ning Yi smiled and said, "Actually, what Sect Leader Lin said also makes some sense. Since it is a battle between grandmasters, it is a rare occurrence. Sect Leader Lin, I propose that it be held half a month later. What do you think?"

The lights in the hall flickered, illuminating the expressions on everyone's faces, sometimes bright, sometimes dim. Although it seemed like they had been psychologically prepared from the beginning and had a mutual understanding, the man who was holding down the fort over there was still unwilling to let this duel begin. Here, Lin Zongwu raised his wine glass and gently put it down with a smile that had changed.

"Half a month later, Ning Ren Tu, are you toying with me?!" With this low shout, the surrounding torches swayed.

Ning Yi looked at him across from him. After a moment, he slowly said, "Sect Leader Lin... what are you talking about?"

"Forgive my frankness." Lin Zongwu slowly opened his mouth, "At this time, the situation down the mountain and the situation on the mountain, everyone knows in their hearts. I am not talented, but I just want an opportunity for everyone to be able to speak openly... Half a month later! Whether Miss Lu will be here is another matter. By then, if I can't find an opponent, will you, Ning Ren Tu, make up for this regret?"

"Alright." Ning Yi smiled and leaned back in his chair. "I'll make it up."

"You can't afford to make it up."

In the two's tit-for-tat words, Hongti in front frowned, then smiled again. Over here, He Shuyuan stood up and laughed, "Oh dear, oh dear, it's fate that everyone can gather together. Everything can be discussed. Sect Leader Lin, Mr. Ning, don't get angry, don't get angry..."

"Alright, then let's also speak openly." Ning Yi's gaze turned to Hongti. He was still a little unwilling to accept Hongti's insistence on dueling with Lin Echan, but after a moment, he sighed and smiled, "Sect Leader Lin said that the martial arts exchange is only for the sake of skill, but with the current situation of Green Wood Fortress, Miss Lu still has many things to do. Are you taking advantage of the situation by mentioning martial arts at this time?"

"Absolutely not." Lin Zongwu's answer was firm, "I have said that I am here specifically to spread my Grand Brightness teachings and also to form a good relationship with everyone. As long as Miss Lu is willing to fight me, whether she wins or loses, I will treat Miss Lu as a friend, withdraw from this matter, or lobby for Green Wood Fortress. Does that satisfy you, Ning Ren Tu?"

"Are you saying that you want to tie the safety of Green Wood Fortress to a woman's body? Is that alright?"

As Ning Yi said this, Peng Yue, the fourth leader of Green Wood Fortress, stood up, "Mr. Ning is right. How about I take a few moves from Sect Leader Lin?"

Over on Lin Zongwu's side, someone immediately stood up, "What are you? What makes you think you can exchange blows with Sect Leader Lin!"

He Shuyuan got up and said, "Hey, hey, don't hurt harmony, don't hurt harmony..."

As they were speaking, someone also tentatively stood up from a round table near the outside of the hall, "Actually... I think that what we're discussing today seems to be matters of my Green Ridge Mountain. It's really inappropriate to decide it with a fight..." It was Xin Tiecheng, who had a good impression of the Blood Bodhisattva.

In the midst of everyone's clamor, Lin Zongwu suddenly laughed again, his voice like a bell: "Actually... I've always had one thing I didn't understand!"

When he opened his mouth, everyone stopped. Ning Yi and others were looking at him, but no one asked what it was. Lin Zongwu pointed his finger at the table and stood up.

"The matter of Green Wood Fortress! The matter of Green Ridge Mountain! Even the matter between me and Miss Lu as martial artists! Why is it always you, Ning Ren Tu, who is speaking today? Have all the members of Green Wood Fortress gone mute?"

When he asked this question, Liang Bingfu knocked on his cane next to Hongti and opened his mouth in an old voice: "Mr. Ning is not only a distinguished guest of Green Wood Fortress, but also a partner. The people under him manage the accounts for my Green Wood Fortress, organizing the income and expenses. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with him speaking for my Green Wood Fortress at this time."

No one dared to ignore the old man when he opened his mouth. Over there, Lin Zongwu laughed again: "Oh? I don't think that's all." He looked around, "I heard from people that Ning Ren Tu and Miss Lu are actually a couple and are about to get married. Is that why he's speaking?"

As soon as these words came out, there was an immediate buzz around them. Xin Tiecheng and others looked at Ning Yi and Lu Hongti, suddenly understanding why Ning Yi was so strongly helping Green Wood Fortress at this time. However, after knowing that Green Wood Fortress was actually being controlled by outsiders, their moods became complicated again. Ning Yi also stood up: "Where did Sect Leader Lin hear this from? The news is so well-informed."

"If this is true, I will first congratulate the two of you on your marriage and wish you a long and happy life together." Lin Zongwu smiled kindly.

Ning Yi just looked at him and smiled: "So what Sect Leader Lin wants to say is that I will fight in place of Blood Bodhisattva next?"

"It is natural for a man to fight in place of the woman he loves, but I have no such intention at all. There is just one thing that I am very concerned about."

"Oh? I would like to hear the details."

"In the late summer of the year before last, Ning Ren Tu defeated Song Jiang and others at Liangshan, killing half of the Liangshan bandits and chasing the rest in all directions. In early July, a woman appeared, killing several top-tier martial artists during that time. I have carefully investigated. During that period, there were several experts buried by her hand, including 'Chaos-World Demon King' Fan Rui, 'Eight-Armed Nezha' Xiang Chong, 'Golden-Eyed Leopard' Shi En, 'Quick Sword' Lin Qi, 'Flowery Monk' Lu Zhishen..."

As Lin Zongwu's smile enumerated the names, Ning Yi's heart sank slightly. He suddenly realized something, while the others only felt surprised by Lin Zongwu's listing.

"... Being able to kill so many people in such a short period of time, this woman's skill is admirable. It's just that the name left by the woman at that time was not Blood Bodhisattva, but 河山铁剑 (He Shan Tie Jian - Rivers and Mountains Iron Sword)..." Lin Zongwu said, word by word, looking at Hongti, "Lu! Hong! Ti!"

"And... the message she left at that time was that she was the Bloodhand Butcher, Ning Liheng... your master. Are you going to marry your master?"

Cold air and shadows surged from the hall...

The next moment, a burst of exclamations sounded. Ning Yi laughed, "There's no such thing!"

"The principles of Heaven and Earth!" Lin Zongwu pointed at Ning Yi, his voice like a bell, "You actually want to do lewd things with your master?!"

Lou Shuwan stood up a little further away: "Is she really your master?"

"How can there be such a thing..."

"Against Heaven and Earth..."

"You're spewing blood..."

"The five constant virtues of human relations! You are studying Confucianism. If the Prime Minister in the capital knew that you had done such a thing, what do you think he would think of you!"

"Lin Zongwu, aren't you afraid of shortening your life by telling lies!"

"You're deliberately making trouble! Guards!"

"Shut up—"

"Don't get angry, don't get angry, let's talk it out..."

Countless voices rang out at the same time. Ning Yi's expression was calm, but his words could not hide the commotion. Peng Yue, the fourth leader of Green Wood Fortress, was originally a calm person, but he had been impulsive once just now, and now he jumped up again, directly calling for people to come in and fight. Zheng Ashuan stopped this, but the entire hall was already in turmoil. In the midst of Lin Zongwu's every word, people led by Lou Shuwan began to speak in a buzzing voice. More people discussed in private. Xin Tiecheng and He Zhong watched all this, on the one hand, shocked and surprised, and on the other hand, wary of the possibility of drawing their sabers and fighting at any moment. At the innermost part of the hall, Liang Bingfu frowned and asked Hongti something in a low voice.

"Enough!"

Like a drop of dew falling into the water, then, there was a buzzing sound that kept rising. Everyone looked towards the hall. Lu Hongti, dressed in black, placed one hand on the table, and the ancient sword next to her trembled as if it were alive. Almost everyone stopped talking.

"There's no such thing, don't talk nonsense. But what Sect Leader Lin said is also right. Problems that can be solved with a fight, why bother going around in circles? After all, sometimes, justice is not in people's hearts, and right and wrong lie in strength." The last sentence was actually told to her by Ning Yi, but now that she said it, it seemed particularly cold. No one spoke. She smiled, "Sect Leader Lin, I accept your challenge."

"Hahahaha, that's so much better, but, the 'no such thing', does that mean that you have no plans to get married, or that you are not her master? Hahahaha... Hahahahahaha—"

Lin Zongwu's laughter shook the entire night sky. He stood with his hands behind his back and walked towards the courtyard outside the hall. His steps seemed slow, but he passed by Xin Tiecheng and others in a few steps.

"Life is like a sea of bitterness, the flesh is a raft. The way of martial arts is like a long journey in the dark. I have not seen a fellow traveler for a long time. To be able to fight with an expert like Blood Bodhisattva tonight and witness the highest level of martial arts together is truly exhilarating, exhilarating—"

Hongti had already drawn her sword. She did not speak, but as she passed Ning Yi, a slight, sweet smile appeared on her lips. In the center of the spacious courtyard, Lin Zongwu stood next to a pine tree as tall as him, with his hands behind his back, looking up at the night sky. People only heard a low sigh: "What beautiful stars..."

Xin Tiecheng and others watched Hongti walk over and pass by them, sighing in their hearts. And the woman's figure suddenly began to accelerate!

Due to the previous atmosphere and commotion, this duel was now ignited with anger. There was really no room for politeness between them. In the flickering lights, she crossed the hall and the threshold. In the 哒哒哒 (da da da - sound of footsteps) she turned into a black afterimage in just a few steps. At the end of the line of sight, Lin Zongwu's wide robe suddenly billowed. He backhanded and uprooted the pine tree next to him. The whole person seemed to swell up suddenly, taking two steps 踏踏 (ta ta - sound of footsteps) forward to meet Lu Hongti.

"喝啊 (He a - a shout)!"

The huge figure waved the pine tree, and in an instant, he looked like the Vajra and the Ming King of Buddhism appearing in their wrathful forms! The two figures suddenly collided!

The light flickered, and the pressure and energy surged towards the hall like a tide. The sword light flew into the sky, and in the moment when the light suddenly dimmed, the pine tree flew into the sky, dirt splashed, and the two figures stopped at the point of impact. Lin Zongwu suddenly punched!

No one expected the momentum of the two grandmasters' first battle to be so intense. People like Xin Tiecheng couldn't even see what was happening. The ancient sword was tearing through the air, and the sound of Lin Zongwu's punch was like the sea roaring. There were several bangs and booms in the air. According to the general understanding, this was a high-speed exchange at close range, the force of hard-to-hard parries.

The ancient sword also followed the force of the punch and shot towards the beam of the gathering hall. It seemed to have been smashed away. Only some people on the scene could see this scene clearly, but in the next moment, they all saw it clearly.

That was a loud "Boom."

In the air, Lin Zongwu's huge figure paused. Huge ripples spread with his robe, body, and pine needles flying in the air. The black figure, a head shorter than Lin Zongwu and less than half his size, kicked Lin Zongwu.

Few people could understand the power of this kick. After the huge sound of air shaking, Lin Zongwu's mountain-like figure retreated violently backward with 踏踏踏 (ta ta ta - sound of footsteps). He seemed to be frightened by this blow. And over here in the darkness, Hongti had disappeared from her spot by relying on the recoil of this kick. In the next moment, she was flying in the sky, her whole body thrown towards Lin Zongwu's location!

The whole situation, from the beginning of the battle, was only the time of one breath. Everyone had already widened their eyes, ready to crack. No one expected such a scene to appear before their eyes.

The two sides rushed over, Lin Zongwu waved the tree and slammed it, and then there was a rain-like exchange of fists. Pine trees flew, ancient swords flew, and the gang wind roared. The woman, without the slightest retreat, kicked Lin Zongwu. Then she flew back to the beam, drew her sword, and kicked hard. The entire beam was moving, and the only thing that rang in everyone's ears was the roaring sound of frantic fighting.

In the martial arts of the green forest, force rises from the ground. To seek change, ordinary people usually do not put themselves in mid-air. But there are also some extreme martial arts that choose extreme methods. What appeared before everyone's eyes at this time was a very common yet extremely risky move in the martial world, the Eagle and Snake Life-and-Death Struggle (Ying She Sheng Si Bo)!

However, the previous blow had an amazing penetrating power, and even ripples were created in the air. As Lin Zongwu retreated, he could hardly react. Hongti used the force to get on the beam, then drew her sword and jumped again. In the dimness, the sword light cut through countless pine needles, cutting out a ripple in the night!

Regardless of whether Lin Zongwu thought that enraging Hongti was a good thing or a bad thing, and regardless of whether this exchange was her deliberate plot or a random response. In this short moment, everyone could understand the reason why the woman was called the "Blood Bodhisattva," and Lin Zongwu would face the monstrous killing intent that would pierce the skin and seem to cut off everything after the woman was truly angered—

The woman in the black dress brushed towards the enemy.

Only one breath from the start of the battle.

Soaring in the air, tearing silk.

Seeing blood!

"Roar... Ah—"

Like a violent tiger fording a river, Lin Echan's fist energy also counterattacked like an avalanche...

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