Chapter 25: Inviting You into the Urn

  Please come into the jar

  Early winter morning, the thin dawn glow dyed the clouds red. Shining on Yezi Spring, who walked out of the crowd, he was still dressed as a beggar today. He carefully left Qingshui Bay Town, occasionally turning his head to look back at the situation behind him. The one paying attention to him was Yan Xue, Yan Xue wore a dress with floral patterns and skillfully followed Yezi Spring to the east side of Fengling Mountain's cliff. Watching Yezi Spring enter the cave, she smiled lightly and whispered: "It's actually him."

  Yun Xiangtian's investigation of the hidden cave where Yezi Chun was hiding wasn't surprising, but Hong Shangu was getting restless. She said: "This little devil is actually a spy for the enemy. I'll arrest him right now."

  Madam Wang smiled and said: "Him? I don't think so. He doesn't seem like a Japanese spy."

  Hong Shangu snorted: "Who else could it be? How would he have found this hidden cave otherwise? I've had a bad feeling about this kid from the start. He's so mysterious and suspicious, definitely not a good person."

  Yun Xiang Tian was thinking of something else, before he came to An Min Village, he had followed Ye Zi Chun, in the forest under the Ghost Village, saw a red-clothed woman with her back to him passing on information to Ye Zi Chun. Later, he also followed Ye Zi Chun up Fei Long Ridge, and saw a huge tomb group in the mountain cave. He thought: "What kind of person is Ye Zi Chun? Although he is extremely deep in his ways, and good at plotting. But it doesn't seem like he's a traitor, shouldn't be a Japanese running dog. Who is that woman?"

  Yun Xiang Tian's face turned solemn as he said, "Madam Wang, Aunt. I once followed Ye Zi Chun, and he went to the forest below the Ghost Village to receive intelligence from a woman. Afterwards, he headed towards the Flying Dragon Ridge's cave tomb group. Was this arranged by you two to test my bottom line?"

  Hong Shangu looked at Wang Furen and said frankly: "Yes, it's true that this thing happened."

  At this time, a person rushed in from outside the cave. Madame Wang was overjoyed when she saw him and was about to speak. The man had already knelt down, unbuttoned his shirt and said something.

  "We might as well do it this way," said Yun Xiang Tian after a moment of contemplation.

  Ye Zi Chun carefully examined the bodies in the cave, a total of twenty-one. They were all wearing loincloths, clearly indicating they were Japanese. The deceased had not struggled before death, very calm, as if killed while dreaming. Each body had injuries to the neck, with fatal wounds being four blood holes at the throat, arranged in an orderly manner, resembling bite marks from teeth. Ye Zi Chun again carefully searched around, but found no more clues, except for the bodies, there were not even any footprints. "Who did it? Is there really a ghost guarding Fengling Mountain? Are ghosts real?" He walked out of the cave with doubt.

  The night wind gently swept through Qing Shui Bay Town. Ye Zi Chun, lying on the dry ground under a small bridge in Qing Shui Bay Town, pulled his tattered cotton-padded jacket and thought about his own affairs. A faint footstep sound came from above the bridge. "Who's out at midnight?" Ye Zi Chun quietly peeked out. With the dim moonlight, he saw that it was Wang Qi. Ye Zi Chun hesitated: "At this late hour, what is he doing going down the mountain?" He pushed aside his tattered cotton-padded jacket and silently followed him.

  Wang Qi Qi turned into the north foot of Fengling Mountain, looked back and observed for a moment, "Gugu gugu, gugu." Wang Qi let out a nightingale's cry. As the cry disappeared, Ye Zi Chun saw someone walking out from the shrubs on the mountain slope. The person wore a top hat with the brim pressed very low, making it impossible to see their face. In a low and solemn voice, the person asked, "Why come so late?"

  Wang Qi said, "Today there's some trouble, it seems the brothers on the mountain also know that the Japanese are after the secret on the mountain." The village head said... They spoke in increasingly hushed tones, cautiously observing their surroundings. Hidden far away, Yezi Chun couldn't make out what they were saying. He wanted to get closer but was afraid of being discovered and could only stay put. After a while, Wang Qi said, "Let's go, remember to come early tomorrow."

  The man wearing a bowler hat said: "Alright, be careful. I always feel that something is off, so be sure to be on your guard when you return to the mountain." Wang Qi responded with a sound and turned to leave. The man wearing a bowler hat watched as Wang Qi walked away, then loudly shouted: "Friend, come out! You're hiding in the dark eavesdropping on other people's conversations!"

  "What kind of hero."

  The leaves sprang up in alarm, calling out "Not good!" as he was discovered. Just as he thought of standing up, he heard someone laugh and say: "Brother, don't be anxious! The young woman is coming out now." As the speaker spoke, a woman emerged from the shrubs opposite Yezi Chun. The woman wore a black veil over her face and a night-traveling cloak; she smiled mischievously and said: "Feng Tianxiong, Feng Erxia indeed lives up to his reputation. To so easily see through my trail, it's truly admirable. But what heroism can a weak woman like myself have? On the other hand, what brings Brother Feng here on this late night?"

  Feng Tianxiong looked at the newcomer and coldly said: "I thought it was who? It turned out to be Xueping young lady. Long time no see, how have you been, young lady? How has Madame Wang been?" After finishing speaking, he looked extremely hard towards the back of Xueping, as if looking for someone.

  The leaves hidden in the dark, Ye Zichun, did not know these two people. But from Feng Tianxiong's words and actions, he was familiar with Xue Ping, and also knew Wang Furen behind her, and even feared that Wang Furen a little. Ye Zichun lowered his head further, he wanted to figure out the purpose of these two people coming here.

  Xue Ping chuckled and said, "Feng Er Xia, what are you looking for? Do you think you can see Madame Wang just because you want to? I heard that you've switched allegiance to a new master, let me ask, how many bones do they have there?"

  Feng Tianxiong naturally heard Xue Ping scolding him as a dog, and he said with some annoyance: "Miss Xue Ping, don't use foul language to hurt people. I am now relying on the Japanese, which goes against morality. Did Madam ever think of our past relationship? Think about how Feng Tianxiong risked his life for the Wang family just to find out the secret of Fengling Mountain, and she used the mountain rules and family law against me. If it weren't for my thick skin, I would have become a lonely ghost long ago. Now we are on different paths, and our waters don't mix with each other's. Let's part ways here." After finishing speaking, he turned around to leave.

  Xue Ping suddenly appeared in front of him at an incredible speed, laughing and saying: "Don't be in a hurry, Feng Er Xia, the lady said that it's been a long time since we last met, and she misses you very much. Let me take you to see Feng Er Xia, no matter what, please come up to the mountain stronghold and sit for a while. How about it, Feng Er Xia, shall we go?"

  The leaves hidden in the dark thought: "Are they all from Wangjia Village? Wangjia Village was already slaughtered by mountain bandits. It seems that those who escaped by luck have another hiding place. Where will they be? How could this Feng Tianxiong be a person from Wang's family? And who is this Xueping?" Many doubts entwined in Yezi Spring's mind, he looked at the two people not far away from him, he must find the answer as soon as possible.

  Only to hear Feng Tianxiong, who was blocked from going further, say: "Xueping young lady, don't push people too far. Since I left the Wang family, there is no more connection between us. You walk your own path, and I'll cross my own bridge. Let's just consider the matter of meeting Madame Wang settled, and please don't mention it again. Please step aside."

  Xue Ping still smiled and said: "Feng Er Xia, can't you do anything about this? Since it's the lady who invited him, I'm afraid you can't decline even if you want to. Why don't you just follow me instead? So everyone won't feel awkward."

  Feng Tianxiong slowly lifted his head and removed his hat. At this moment, he was facing Ye Zichun, and under the dim moonlight, Ye Zichun could still see clearly that Feng Tianxiong's face was terrifying. A scar ran from the left corner of his eyebrow across the bridge of his nose to the right corner of his mouth, like a snake lying on his face, emitting a faint purple color in the pale moonlight, recklessly altering his facial features and tearing apart the contours of his original face. He pointed to his scar and said: "Xueping, do you still remember this scar?"

  Xue Ping still smiled and said: "Remember, of course I remember. It was three years ago when you single-handedly guarded the gate with a knife and left it behind. In the end, it was me who bandaged it for you. What's going on, are you bringing this up today?"

  Feng Tianxiong burst out laughing and said: "Good, very good. So the young lady hasn't forgotten what happened three years ago, and Feng naturally won't forget the young lady's kindness either. Please step aside, Miss Xueping, I don't want to fight you."

  Xue Ping seemed to say casually: "Really? You only remember the kindness of Xue Ping, have you forgotten the kindness of the Wang family?"

  "Feng Tianxiong snorted and said, 'The kindness of the Wang family? Since I joined the Wang family, I have been loyal and dedicated, willing to die for my master. How did the Wang family treat me? For a small matter, they used house rules on me. Even if the Wang family had some kindness, it has long been dispersed with the house rules.'"

  "Hmph, you treacherous dog, how dare you speak so eloquently after forgetting the kindness shown to you? You stole the treasure map from Mount Fengling and plan to give it to that little demon. Do you think I'm unaware of this? Hand over the map and follow me to apologize to Lady Wang immediately. Perhaps she'll spare your life considering your past contributions to our mountain stronghold. Otherwise, you'll meet your end right here today."

  Feng Tianxiong's face turned ferocious, the scars on his face twitching with excitement like a venomous snake ready to strike. He snarled: "I had planned to spare your life, but you know too much. Hmph, today I'll have to kill you to silence you, and it will save me a lot of trouble in the future. This is your own doing, don't blame me." After finishing speaking, he assumed a fighting stance, ready to pounce on Xue Ping.

  Xue Ping laughed again and said: "Feng Er Xia, you've been stepped on your tail, haven't you? You've become so vicious. Do you want to kill me?" She patted her chest and pretended to be scared, saying: "Oh, I'm so afraid!" Suddenly she shouted loudly: "Submit to death!" A pair of jade hands suddenly turned into sharp claws, aiming straight at Feng Tianxiong's face.

  Feng Tianxiong didn't respond, using his left hand to deflect Xue Ping's sharp claws and striking her chest with a straight punch from his right hand. Xue Ping let out a cry of "Despicable!" Feng Tianxiong sneered, "Who cares about being despicable or not? Being able to kill you is what matters." The two exchanged blows, their movements swift and intense, making it hard to tell who was winning or losing.

  The leaves of Chun, hiding in the dark, did not want to expose himself. Seeing Feng Tianxiong gradually gaining the upper hand, he felt it was time to take action. He reached out and pulled out the pistol from his waist, aiming at Feng Tianxiong and shouting loudly: "Feng, raise your hands for me!"

  The two men who were fighting were stunned by Yezi Spring's sudden appearance. Feng Tianxiong looked at the black gun muzzle pointing at him and had no choice but to raise his hands. Just as Yezi Spring was about to smile, he felt a hand on the back of his head. A woman's voice came from behind: "You should also put your hands up! My special agent Ye." Before she finished speaking, Yezi Spring's gun had already been knocked out of his hand. The woman used Yezi Spring's gun to point at Xueping and said: "Feng the Second Hero, tie up Miss Xueping. She is the key to opening the Ghost Valley gate. You must be careful."

  The man's voice made Yezi Chun feel a bit familiar. He turned his head around and said in a somewhat disbelieving tone, "Is it you? Cuiyu?"

  Cuiyu suddenly revealed a sweet smile and said: "What's wrong, Special Envoy Ye? Didn't expect it, did you?" She kicked Yezi Chun to the ground with one foot and told Feng Tianxiong, who had already tied Xueping up with his own leg bindings: "Tie him up for me too."

  Feng Tianxiong used his other leg strap to tie up Yezi Chun, stood up and said: "Thank you, Cuiyu lady, for lending a hand. I wonder if the lady is the leader of the 'Sakura' team in the Falcon Action?"

  Cui Yu suddenly pressed the gun against Feng Tianxiong's head and said: "Say, how did you know about the Falcon Operation? And how did you know I was Sakura? Who are you? Speak quickly."

  Feng Tianxiong looked at the muzzle and said: "I, I am Xuanjian Cave's..." He suddenly grabbed Cuiyu's hand holding the gun, and Xueping, who was tied up beside him, also broke free from her bonds and pounced on Cuiyu.