Chapter 20: The Three Holy Mothers

  "The blue sea laughs, the waves surge on both shores, floating and sinking with the tide, a record of today. The vast sky laughs, the world's tides are numerous, who loses or wins is known to heaven. The red dust laughs, after all, it's quiet, the worldly affairs of the red dust cannot be forgotten."

  A clear and melodious song suddenly rose, then dissipated with the wind, faintly and vaguely, the sound of the qin and se harmonized, drums and bells ringing. The desolate and eerie atmosphere in this song suddenly condensed, a pair of eyes that were originally silver-white turned black, deep, dark, yet burst out with a light as swift as lightning.

  "Who is it?!"

  These words almost simultaneously came out of Lin Huang's and Bing Xue Jian Sheng's mouths, the former with suspicion, the latter in furious anger.

  "A piece of High Mountain Flowing Water to find a kindred spirit. Besides Qin Sheng and Qin Qing, who else can there be?" Hong Ying crushed the lollipop in one bite, his expression unusually solemn, clearly the "Qin Sheng" he mentioned had put great pressure on him.

  "Three Holy Mothers." The Icebound Sword Saint gritted his teeth and muttered a sentence to himself, his expression solemn.

  "Three Holy Mothers, who dares to stop me from killing Lin Huang today? Whoever it is will be an enemy of the Zhennan Sect! You, are you certain you want to stop me?"

  "The arbitration body recognized his holy position."

  "He is the saint of the mortal world."

  "The Saints' Protocol forbids mutual slaughter."

  "What's most important is that he got my recognition."

  "This is Daqian County."

  "Get out of here!"

  Three voices, either sweet, or calm, or solemn.

  The words fell, and three figures appeared in the air. One wore a purple long dress, elegant and refined, with a five-stringed zither in her arms. Another wore a black long robe, his face stern and cold, flipping over a black and white chess piece in his palm. The last one was dressed in white, with a crown on his head, bright eyes and white teeth, dressed as a scholar, holding a spring and autumn pen in his hand.

  Three figures of ethereal beauty, each with their own divine charm and unique elegance, stood facing the Ice Seal Sword Saint and others from a distance.

  "The three goddesses have arrived. It's all right now, it's all right now."

  Seeing the arrival of the visitor, King Chunqiu let out a sigh of relief and patted Chen Guang Wang, "You old Chen, you still deceived me by saying that San Sheng Mu wouldn't come. You scared me to death."

  Chen King was also shocked, he did not expect Lin Huang to actually stir up the Three Holy Mothers.

  "The Three Holy Mothers." The Icebound Sword Saint's gaze turned cold and stern, "Others may fear you Three Holy Mothers, but I, the Southern Daoist Sect, do not."

  Huǒ Liè Shèng Zhě and Huǒ Yàn Shèng Zhě didn't say a word, but their auras were fully open as they stood behind Bīng Fēng Jiàn Shèng, their faces stern.

  "What about the three Holy Mothers?" Lin Huang concentrated his mind and pondered.

  As a person from Dacheng County, San Shengmu's name was naturally familiar to Lin Huang.

  Thousands of years ago, when Dacheng County was not yet called Dacheng County, a painting sage emerged, with cultivation that shocked heaven and earth. Later, he gave birth to three more saints, who entered the Tao through music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The four saints were known as the Four Saints of Dacheng, but after the Painting Sage fell, only the Music Saint, Chess Saint, and Calligraphy Saint remained, giving rise to the title of Three Saints Mother.

  The three Holy Mothers were saints five thousand years ago, with cultivation that shocked the heavens and earth, and had a mighty reputation in the mortal world. To say nothing of the Ice Sealing Sword Saint, even his master, the Zhongnan Sword Saint who entered the Central Region, would have to respectfully address the Three Holy Mothers as seniors.

  So seeing the three Holy Mothers come out, Bing Feng Jian Sheng's tone was still tough, but in his heart he knew that this time he probably couldn't kill Lin Huang.

  "Why must you interrupt my calamity? The evil path is endless, and it will never die." Lin Huang slowly spoke up, and with one sentence, everyone was shocked.

  Chun Qiu Wang sucked in a breath of cool air, and scolded loudly, "Lin Huang, are you out of your mind?! The Three Holy Mothers have come to help you, how can you be so ungrateful?!"

  Lin Huang's expression was cold and indifferent, "Cut off the Red Dust, cross the mortal calamity. In a moment, I will be able to achieve semi-divinity, what are the four saints? A mere snap of the fingers and they will be annihilated, why bother with human help."

  The three Holy Mothers looked at Lin Huang strangely, and the Ice Seal Sword Saint and others also looked at Lin Huang strangely.

  Hong Ying crushed the lollipop in her mouth and smiled: "Why are you so surprised? What he said is right. If it weren't for San Sheng Mu interrupting him just now, he would have been able to overcome the tribulation and become a demigod. We few useless people really only have one dead end."

  The three Ice Sword Saints sneered and ignored him, their eyes fixed on the Three Holy Mothers. "Since he doesn't know what's good for him, why must you continue to protect him?"

  "Moreover, aren't you, the Saint of Books, supposed to abhor evil? This Lin Huang, in order to become a saint, caused the deaths of 100,000 people. Are you going to go against your own conscience to protect him?"

  "That's fate, that's affinity, it's suffering, it's blessing. What sin does he have?" As soon as the Book Saint spoke, Lin Huang immediately thought of the person he saw yesterday.

  "Robbing the strong of their logic." Bing Feng Jian Sheng coldly laughed and gazed at Hong Ying.

  "Don't look at me, I said I won't make a move." Hong Ying hastily shook his head. The Three Holy Mothers were not ones to be trifled with. If he were to offend them in pursuit of killing Lin Huang, he reckoned he would die a terrible death.

  Bing Feng Jian Sheng took a deep breath, his face looking unwell, and came with an ominous aura. Was he going to leave in defeat?

  In his heart, Bing Feng Jian Sheng looked at the two Taishang elders.

  Huoliè Shèngzhě nodded and stepped forward with a solemn expression, "Qīn Shèng's 'High Mountain Flowing Water Seeking the Knowing Sound' is a masterpiece. I've long wanted to learn from you, please teach me."

  "After all the talk, it still comes down to one thing." Lin Huang sighed. He wasn't a fool and from the Ice Seal Sword Saint's words and actions, he had already sensed that there was something fishy about his situation earlier. The Three Saints Mother intervening to cut him off definitely wasn't to ruin his future prospects. However, the reason behind it all remained unknown for now."

  Seeing the impending battle, Lin Huang stepped forward with his feet treading on empty air and blocked the path in front of San Sheng Mu.

  "There's still much for you to learn."

  "Just watch from the side."

  "One move is enough to deal with him."

  The three saints each spoke a sentence, Lin Huang only felt a ringing in his ears, and then the Fire Saint let out a muffled hum, with blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth, looking pale, and was supported by the Blazing Saint, otherwise he would have fallen over.

  Bing Feng Jian Sheng's face turned iron-green, and he stroked his sleeve, "Let's go."

  "Lin Huang, you'd better hide in Dacheng County for the rest of your life. Otherwise, I'll make sure you die."

  Leaving behind a trail of fierce words, the icy sword saint's vengeful journey ended in a whimper, slinking away with his tail between his legs. This left Lin Huang with a deeper understanding of the Three Saints' true strength.

  "Why help me?" Lin Huang asked as he watched Ice Sword Saint and others leave.

  Xiao Su said you're pretty good.

  "And you're from Daqian County too."

  "The most important thing is that you have no sect and no party."

  "So, go apprentice."

  Lin Huang's face twitched, and these three Saint Mothers took action, unexpectedly to take him as their disciple.

  Lin Angrily laughed and said, "You are saints, I am also a saint, what can you teach me?"

  "When three people walk together, one of them must be my teacher."

  "Take three steps ahead of the gods, but you don't know one step."

  "So you have something to learn."

  "It's okay if you don't kowtow."

  "I'll teach you in three days."

  "Protect me for all eternity."

  The three saints' words were simple and direct, instantly moving Lin Huang.

  Lin Huang was an unusual cultivator who had no foundation, and he knew that his accumulation couldn't compare to those who had suffered for dozens or hundreds of years before becoming a saint, so Lin Huang's heart moved.

  But for him to acknowledge a master, it was absolutely impossible.

  So Lin Huang nodded, "Alright, teach me for three days, but if I gain something, protecting this Daqian Prefecture for a lifetime is no big deal."

  "Good."

  "Come with us."

  "Only three days."

  The three holy mothers turned and left, Lin Huang naturally followed.

  The people below looked at each other in dismay, and King Chunqiu hastily shouted, "Lin Huang, what should I do? What about them? Should we start a massacre and let the blood flow like a river? Give me an order!"

  Lin Huang snapped his fingers, and a message fell into the mind of Spring Autumn King, "Dedicate your life to her, protect her for a lifetime. You know this, I know this."

  The King of Spring and Autumn looked deeply at Chen Ruo, nodded, and stopped talking.

  In the blink of an eye, a rainbow appeared, and everyone in the scene almost thought it was just an illusion. Looking at Chen Junwang again, looking at Chunqiu Wang, Wu Cheng's father took a deep breath, "Please, Chen Junwang, Chunqiu Wang, please take your seats."

  The King of Spring and Autumn nodded, the King of Chen also smiled, the sound of silk and bamboo rose again, the auspicious time arrived, what a wonderful joyous occasion.