, Son-in-Law! The sun had already set, and a gurgling stream flowed through the mountains.

Beside the stream, on a mountainside sheltered from the night wind by a large rock, a small kitchen had been set up.

Firewood burned in a newly built stove. Fragrant rice was cooking in an iron pot, and next to the pot, skewers of bamboo and wood held roasting fish and frogs, beginning to turn golden brown.

A little monk, swallowing his saliva, sat cross-legged to one side, watching the young man opposite him with some admiration as he took salt, *zhuyu* and other powders from a medicine chest. As the fish and frogs were almost cooked, he sprinkled them lightly with a dreamlike touch, and a more peculiar fragrance seemed to spread out.

"Amitabha. Benefactor, you've cooked all this rice. What will we do tomorrow?" the little monk gulped.

"Do you eat very little?"

"I...I don't..." the little monk stammered.

"Alright, we're both martial artists. We should eat well occasionally. I was planning to treat myself tonight anyway. You're lucky to have run into me."

The little monk stared blankly as the young man opened a small bag beside him and pulled out half a roasted duck. After a moment, he said, "Benefactor, are you also a martial artist?"

"What do you think? Can't you tell? I'm a doctor. I practice the Five Animal Frolics."

"Ah, I know! Tiger, deer, bear, ape, bird."

"Wrong. It's Cat Fist, Horse Fist, Panda Fist, Monkey Fist, and Chicken Fist."

"Uh...but my master said..."

"Is your master a doctor?"

"No, he's a monk."

"Exactly. What does he know about the Five Animal Frolics? Next time you see him, you should correct his mistake." The young man tore off a piece of roasted duck. "By the way, aren't monks not supposed to eat meat?"

"Amitabha. Master says that creatures in this world chase and prey on each other, which is natural and in accordance with the principles of the Great Dao. Eating some things to satisfy hunger is of no consequence. Since all things are empty, then meat is empty, and vegetarian food is also empty. As long as we don't succumb to greed and avoid unnecessary killing. Therefore, we cannot catch fish with nets or fishhooks, but if we only seek to be full, catching them by hand is permissible."

"Oh...your master has a point."

"Haha, he's a fat man."

A small rice bowl used for begging was filled with rice, then topped with roasted fish, frogs, and roasted duck. The little monk held it in his hands, his stomach rumbling. The young man opposite him also filled his own bowl with rice and dishes. The two silhouettes illuminated by the fire gave each other a few hearty nods, then lowered their heads and began to eat heartily.

"Where's your master?"

"Master went into the city to eat delicious food. He said that if I followed him, it would be detrimental to my cultivation, so he told me to travel alone and not to mention his name if I encountered trouble."

"Oh. Your master has a point."

"Haha...what's your name, Benefactor?"

"Me? Heh! It's a big deal." The shadow on the stone wall stood up, appearing particularly tall and imposing in the light of the fire. "My name is...Dragon!"

The voice paused for a moment: "Aow!"

"Heaven!"

The imposing voice echoed in the night.

"Ah..." the little monk's eyes widened. "Dragon...Dragon..."

"That's right, Dragon! Arrogant! Heaven!" Dragon Arrogant Heaven said, squatting down to shovel rice into his mouth. To show humility, he said, "Just call me Brother Dragon."

"Brother Dragon." Under the temptation of the food, the little monk showed excellent follower potential. "Your name is so murderous and powerful."

"Hehe, you don't have to tell me."

Traveling during turbulent times was not easy. Ning Ji, having come from the Southwest these two or three months, had tricked many adults out of food and drink with his innocent face. He rarely encountered travelers as young as the little monk. Moreover, the other party's martial arts were not bad, giving a good impression. He then showed off his domineering image of a江湖大哥. The little monk was indeed pure and kind, and under the influence of the domineering aura, he showed admiring glances from time to time, and then shoveled rice forcefully.

As they ate, they exchanged information. After a while, Ning Ji learned that the little monk was originally from the Jin region. When the Jurchens invaded south last time, his mother died and his father disappeared. He was later adopted by his master, and that was how he got a way to survive.

The little monk's master should be a famous martial artist. This time, he brought the little monk all the way south, and along the way, he had sparred with many people who were said to have decent martial arts, and even had a few instances of chivalrous deeds - these were the traveling footprints of most green forest people. When they arrived near Jiangning, the two parted ways.

Only when asked the other party's name, the little monk hesitated slightly: "Master said not to tell my Dharma name when I got here, I..."

He said this with some embarrassment. Ning Ji nodded understandingly: "Your master has a point..." Most famous martial artists would have many social engagements after arriving in Jiangning, and would be flattered by many people. He separated from his disciple after arriving here, and did not allow the other party to use his banner. On the one hand, this was to let the little monk undergo real training, and on the other hand, it was because he had enough confidence in his disciple's skills.

Walking the *jianghu*,

There were many taboos. Ning Ji was extremely "knowledgeable" and did not pursue matters that the other party was unwilling to talk about. On his side, however, as soon as he said that he came from the Southwest, the little monk's eyes widened again, and he repeatedly asked how the Black Flag Army of the Southwest had defeated the Jurchens.

His parents had died and disappeared when the Jurchens invaded south last time, so he hated the Jurchens the most, and he admired the Black Flag Army that could defeat the Jurchens head-on. Seeing his expression, Ning Ji became even happier, and told the little monk about the various things on the battlefield, pointing out the mountains and rivers and stirring up the text, and even waving the burning branches of the tree, he wanted to draw a marching map on the big stone, and ate a few less mouthfuls of rice.

The two ate all the rice and dishes, talking about each other's things by the campfire, occasionally jumping around and gesticulating. Ning Ji talked about things on the battlefield, naturally borrowing the names of others, often saying "a friend of mine." The little monk listened intently, "Wow, wow" and cried out, wishing he could kneel directly to the hero of the Huaxia Army, but occasionally, when talking about fighting details and martial arts routines, he showed considerable accomplishment.

Ning Ji talked about the battle with the Jurchen scouts on the battlefield, and naturally said the names of the moves at random. Sometimes, he simply used nicknames such as "Yellow Dog Peeing" and "Lion Hitting the Wall." Listening to the description of the moves, the other party could guess a lot of correct plots and moves through some clues.

Of course, at this time, the domineering Dragon Arrogant Heaven slapped the little monk on the head: "Am I the doctor or are you the doctor? I said Yellow Dog Peeing is Yellow Dog Peeing! If you talk back, I'll flatten your head!"

The little monk covered his head and squatted aside, hehe pleased: "Oh."

It was the night of August 14th, and a round moon rose in the sky. Stars spread, and the two teenagers excitedly talked about this and that by the big rock. There were many things in the Southwest, and the little monk asked again and again, and could not finish talking about them in fragments. Ning Ji said: "You will know when you have time to go and see it."

The little monk nodded: "Yes, I'm going in the future...after my mother died, maybe my father went to the Huaxia Army."

After being taken in by his master, he experienced wars, killings, and various dangerous tests that almost killed him. His impression of his father had long been dimmed. However, these years, he had been wandering in the *jianghu*, and he always remembered the idea of finding his father in his heart. Maybe if he found him, with his father and his master, he would have a complete home where he could settle down.

He said this with some sadness. Ning Ji took a branch and said, "Okay, Guangguangtou, since your master doesn't want you to use your original name, then I'll give you a new Dharma name. Let me tell you, this Dharma name is very powerful. My father gave it to me."

The little monk nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay."

He sat cross-legged, watching the other party write three black and crooked characters on the stone with a firewood branch: Sun Wukong.

"What is this?"

"This is the most powerful monkey in the world."

"It's a monkey."

"It's the most powerful monkey."

By the stream, on the mountainside, beside the warm rock, the figure of Dragon Arrogant Heaven flailing his arms and claws was reflected on the stone wall, exaggerating the story of the monkey to his little friend. After a while, the little monk also opened his mouth wide and exclaimed "Wow."

"Let me tell you, I wouldn't give this name to ordinary people. In the future, when you walk the *jianghu* and act chivalrously, if I hear this name, then I'll know that you did it."

The campfire crackled and burned. In this gathering like duckweed, the occasional sparks flew towards the sky, gradually intertwining with the stars.

Light and dust flew into the night sky, passed over a short distance of the hillside, turned into lightless ashes, and fell, melting into the stream. The stream turned into a small river, and the small river twisted and turned into a large river, extending into a vast network of waterways under this sky.

More than twenty miles away from this inconspicuous hillside, the Qinhuai River, as a branch of the waterway, flowed through the ancient city of Jiangning, and millions of lights were spreading across the land.

West of Jiangning City, clusters of torches burned fiercely, illuminating the messy streets with scattered light and shadows. This was a night market opened after the Fairness Party occupied Jiangning. The surrounding shops along the street had traces of being smashed and burned, and some still had the black ashes of burning. Some shops now had new owners, and such and such wooden sheds were built crookedly around them. The Fairness Party members with skills set up stalls here. Because of the influx of outsiders, it seemed quite lively for a while.

Of the five branches of the Fairness Party, the one with relatively strict rules was the team under He Wen, the "Fairness King." If his army broke through a city and occupied it, it could often leave behind some of the old appearance of the place. The other branches, however, had their own killings. Shi Baofeng, the "Equality King," often reasoned, but was the most vigorous in looting gold and silver; the army under the "High Heaven King" was the most elite, but it was also common for soldiers to vent for three or five days after entering the city; the "Reincarnation King" had the most believers under his command, and each time they entered the city with gongs and drums, they could get whatever they wanted by putting on the name of the Unborn Mother; as for Zhou Shang, the "Yama King," no wealthy households could be left wherever he passed, and golden and brilliant places would be burned to ashes. Nowadays, even those who were "relatively rich" and had more well-off families were often not tolerated.

You Hongzhuo was wearing a seemingly tattered black coat and was in this night market.

He found a seat and sat down, asking the shopkeeper for a plate of vegetarian meat, a glass of water, and a bowl of rice.

While waiting for the food to come, his gaze swept over the many flags hanging in the dim surroundings, as well as the marks of the White Lotus and the Great Sun that were everywhere - this was a street under the care of the Unborn Army under the "Reincarnation King." Having traveled the *jianghu* for many years, from the Jin region to the Southwest, he had gained a lot of experience, but he had not seen such a strong atmosphere of the Great Brightness Religion in Jiangning for a long time.

He had always had a feud with the Great Brightness Religion. His parents and family had initially died at the hands of these believers. In recent years, he had also relatively liked to approach these stupid creatures who believed in religion, and he would destroy their plots if he saw any.

Of course, it was not yet time to destroy anything. He rubbed his chopsticks in his hand, recalling the information he had obtained from the "know-it-all" just now in his heart.

Coming to Jiangning this way, in addition to increasing his martial arts cultivation, he did not have a very specific purpose. If he really had to find one, it was probably to inquire about the inside story of the Jiangning Conference for the Jin region's Female Minister within his power.

Now the entire chaotic conference had just begun, and all parties were setting up arenas to recruit troops and buy horses. There were a lot of variables in who would eventually stand where. However, he found a way in the green forest and approached this well-informed person, buying some information that might still be reliable at this stage at a relatively low price for reference.

At present, the most likely infighting in this Jiangning Conference was that the "Fairness King" He Wen was going to kill the "Yama King" Zhou Shang. He Wen, Mr. He, required his subordinates to abide by the rules, while Zhou Shang was the least rule-abiding. His subordinates were extreme and paranoid, and they slaughtered all the wealthy households wherever they went. Among many opinions, these two were the most incompatible extremes within the Fairness Party.

Because of Zhou Shang's extreme practices, the Yama King faction actually had friction and disagreements with the other four factions. For example, on the side of the "Reincarnation King," Chen Juefang, the head of the "Undead Guard," who was now in charge of the Eight Executives, was originally a wealthy household in Jiangnan. He had always been a devout believer in the Great Brightness Religion, and he had done a lot of good deeds by distributing medicine, giving alms, and donating money. After the Fairness Party uprising, the Yama King faction rushed into Chen Juefang's home and burned and killed a lot. Later, this incident led to a slaughter of thousands of people by Taihu Lake, and the two sides had formed a deadly feud over this matter.

This kind of feud with the Yama King faction had accumulated a lot among the other factions who were willing to accept the wealthy households and wash themselves clean. In the past year or two, Zhou Shang and his subordinates, although called heretics and demons, had quickly gathered a large number of supporters because their slogans were the most radical and thorough. They only did destruction, not construction, and whenever they arrived, they would eat up all the wealth of everyone and then roll to the next place.

Now, the Yama King faction had a large momentum, but it was said that the number of people had vaguely exceeded the "Reincarnation King," who had originally risen up by relying on the Great Brightness Religion.

--This was the biggest reason why the "Fairness King" He Wen and the other factions were likely to move against him together.

In addition to the fact that "Yama King" Zhou Shang was vaguely becoming the target of public criticism, what was likely to cause conflict in this conference was the power struggle between "Fairness King" He Wen and "Equality King" Shi Baofeng. Although Shi Baofeng had initially taken charge of the Fairness Party's many internal affairs under the support of Mr. He, with the expansion of his base, he was now out of control. In the mouths of many people, he had almost turned into a commercial body larger than the "Bamboo Records" of the Southwest. This fell into the eyes of many discerning people, and it was bound to be an intolerable hidden danger.

For many upper-level figures within the Fairness Party, it was believed that Shi Baofeng's challenge to Mr. He was even greater than that of Zhou Shang, who did not listen to persuasion.

In this atmosphere of He Wen "possibly attacking Zhou Shang" and "possibly attacking Shi Baofeng," an underground public opinion was gradually rising. This public opinion said that "Fairness King" Mr. He had extreme desire for power and could not tolerate others. Because he was still the face of the Fairness Party and was the strongest party, this gathering might turn into a confrontation between the other four families and Mr. He's family. The underground rumors about "desire for power" were creating momentum for this.

The information provided by that "know-it-all" was reasonable and well-founded, but it could only be regarded as ordinary stuff. Of course, You Hongzhuo had only arrived here not long ago, and he did not expect to get such heartfelt and confidential information from the other party.

Being able to understand the situation in general and then slowly watch it, there would always be a chance to grasp it accurately. No matter who fought whom in Jiangning City, he would always be watching the excitement. At most, he would take a chance to chop the Great Brightness Religion a few hard blows. Anyway, there were so many people, who chopped wasn't chopping? They shouldn't be able to care.

While these things were turning in his mind, the shop assistant brought the food over. You Hongzhuo lowered his head and took a few bites. The night market around him was noisy with people, and customers came and went from time to time. Several men in gray and black clothes walked past You Hongzhuo, and the shop assistant enthusiastically came to greet them, leading them to a table not far away.

You Hongzhuo ate, took a few glances. These people in front were the so-called "Undead Guards" of the Eight Executives under the "Reincarnation King". He found it a little funny in his heart. Stupid sects like the Great Brightness Religion originally loved to make fancy gimmicks the most. These years, they were getting more and more out of tune. "Reincarnation King", "Eight Executives", "Unborn Army", "Undead Guards"... if he drew his knife and cut down one on the spot, could he get up on the spot? If he died just like that, it would be really embarrassing.

He had been walking the *jianghu* for several years. When looking at people, he only used the corner of his eye. Others only thought that he was eating with his head down, and it was extremely difficult to notice his observation. At this time, in the light and shadow of the torches beside him, You Hongzhuo's gaze slightly condensed, and the movements in his hands subconsciously slowed down a bit.

What he saw was the weapon worn around the waist of a man in the Undead Guard opposite him who was sitting with his back to him.

It was a steel whip mace.

You Hongzhuo had once been familiar with such a steel whip mace. He had even held it in his hand and played with it, and he even remembered some of the essentials of using it.

Many years ago, he had just killed his way out of that small mountain village. Before he met Mr. Zhao and his wife, he once had six sworn brothers and sisters. Among them, the eldest brother, Luan Fei, who was unsmiling and had a scar on his face, was a *jianghu* scout who collected gold and silver for "Rebel Master" Wang Juyun. He and the third sister, Qin Xiang, who had a gentle personality and a birthmark on her face, were a couple. The fourth brother was named Kuang Wenbo, who was good at using a single whip, but actually came from a branch of the Great Brightness Religion and ultimately betrayed them.

He still remembered the scene when Third Sister Qin Xiang had her arm broken and her head chopped off.

Later in Zezhou, he met Kuang Wenbo again after separating from Mr. Zhao and his wife, and was sent to prison by the other party.

Of the seven sworn brothers, You Hongzhuo had only seen the scene of Third Sister dying in front of him with his own eyes. Later, he roamed the Jin region, maintained the Female Minister, and once had the opportunity to meet the high-level figures in the Jin region. But he had never asked anyone, including Wang Juyun, about what happened to his eldest brother Luan Fei, and whether the second brother Lu Guangzhi, the fifth brother Le Zheng, and the sixth brother Qian Heng had escaped the pursuit.

He had always been very concerned about the whereabouts of his fourth brother, Kuang Wenbo.

The flames inside and outside the shop crackled and popped. The smell of smoke and dust, the taste of dishes, the smell of sewage, and the faint stench floated in the night sky. You Hongzhuo slowly ate his food, his gaze only shaking on the steel whip mace, on the unrecognizable back. After a while, he finished eating, gently put down his chopsticks, and then rubbed his palms, covering his face, and sat there silently with his eyes closed for a long time.

His heart was agitated and difficult to calm down. He didn't know what to do now.