Chapter 22: A Plan in Snowy Mountains

  Shi Qing and his wife took Shi Zhongyu to Xue Shan to apologize. Mei Fanggu saw that Shi Tianyi was safe and sound, and didn't want to follow them, but Shi Tianyi was worried about Shi Qing and his family, so she had to follow. Mei Fanggu reluctantly followed along.

  While Zhang Ping had even more twists and turns, it was because the Chang Le Gang didn't trust him and wanted him to stay in the Chang Le Gang. Under duress, Zhang Ping could only join forces with Bei Haishi, relying on his own inner strength that allowed him to dominate the martial world, Zhang Ping won by a narrow margin. Seeing how formidable Zhang Ping's martial arts skills were, although the people of the Chang Le Gang were unwilling, they had no choice but to agree to let him leave. Bei Haishi even suggested sending out a few hall masters to provide protection, but unexpectedly, he was refused by Bai Wanjian.

  Na Bei Hai Shi sent out the hall master, named Protection, but in fact it meant to keep an eye on them. As for Bai Wan Jian, he was afraid that Shi Qing and his wife had brought too many good hands, and when they decided to deal with Shi Zhong Yu, they would rush forward together, making it difficult to defend against.

  A group of people hastened their journey, fearing that Zhang San and Li Si would get ahead of them. Bai Wanjian was worried that the people in Ling Xiao City would encounter danger, so he didn't dare to delay on the road at all. Shi Qingfu and his wife, as well as Zhang Ping, were worried that the Snow Mountain Sect had already received the Reward Goodness and Punish Evil copper plate, which would cause Zhang Ping's plan to fail. Shi Zhongyu, who knew that the speed of their journey was related to her own life, hated not being able to fly to Ling Xiao City immediately. As for Shi Tianyi and Mei Fanggu, they didn't care as long as they could follow the main group forward.

  In the midst of everyone's anxious rush, it didn't take long to reach the Western Regions. The Snow Mountain disciples were familiar with the path and took shortcuts, thinking that Zhang San and Li Si's lightness skills might be good, but they didn't know these small paths, so they might not be able to surpass them.

  But Shi Qing and his wife, as well as Zhang Ping, thought that if Mr. Wei wanted to kill Shi Zhongyu at the moment they met, and Zhang San and Li Si didn't happen to arrive in time, it would be very difficult. It was really not good to arrive early or late. The couple and Zhang Ping discussed secretly several times, but there was no good solution, so they could only act according to circumstances. If all else failed, they had to save Shi Zhongyu first and then think of something else.

  A few days later, at noon on this day, the crowd arrived at a row of large wooden houses. Bai Wanjian asked the guard in the house and learned that everything was normal in Ling Xiang City, and he immediately felt greatly relieved. That night, the crowd stayed overnight in the wooden house, and early the next morning, they left their horses in the big wooden house and walked up the mountain.

  As they headed west, the mountain became steeper, and several Snow Mountain disciples led the way forward. As they climbed up, Stone Qing and his wife thought about soon seeing Bai Zixin again, but Zhang Ping's heart was filled with worry. By dusk, in front of them stood a mountain peak that pierced the sky, with hundreds of houses built on its summit, surrounded by a white wall. Bai Wanjian said, "Stone Manor Lord, this is Ling Xiao City. Hidden away in a remote village, everything is quite simple." Stone Qing praised, "Majestically situated at the summit, overlooking the surrounding mountains, the two words 'Ling Xiao' are indeed aptly named."

  The next day, everyone arrived at Ling Xiao City. Bai Wanjian shouted towards the top of the city wall: "Who's on duty today? Don't you see us coming back?"

  A head popped out from above the wall and said: "White Master and all the masters have returned. I'll go report now."

  Bai Wanjian shouted: "The master and mistress of Xuansu Manor and the leader of Changle Gang have arrived, quickly lower the drawbridge."

  "That's right, that's right!" he said, pulling his head back in, but after a long while, the drawbridge still didn't come down.

  Bai Wanjian saw that the situation was somewhat unusual and worried that something unexpected had happened in the city, so he said in a low voice: "Be careful, fellow disciples. It's possible that those two from Xiake Island have arrived first."

  Just then the drawbridge was slowly lowered, and a one-armed man rushed out of the city, shouting: "It's Brother Shi and Sister-in-law Shi who have arrived, rare guests, rare guests..."

  Shi Qing saw Feng Huo Shen Long, the Emperor of the Wind and Fire, personally come out to greet him. He thought about how he had lost an arm, all because of his son's involvement, and felt extremely ashamed. He rushed forward and said: "Feng Xiongdi, my foolish brother and wife have brought our rebellious son to apologize to Master Bai and you." As he spoke, he fell to his knees and kowtowed.

  Shi Zhongyu hastily knelt down and said: "Master, it's all because of the disciple's youth and ignorance that such a great disaster was created. The disciple feels deeply uneasy."

  Feng Wanli hastily returned the courtesy and helped the couple up, saying: "Brother Shi and his wife have come from afar, tired and weary, quickly enter the city to rest." Although Shi Zhongyu was kneeling in front of him, he seemed to be ignoring him as if he didn't exist, clearly not having forgiven Shi Zhongyu's past transgression.

  After entering the main hall, the sky gradually darkened. Bai Wanjian went to look for Mr. Weide. Feng Wanli ordered people to set up a banquet and also arranged a seat for Shi Zhongyu.

  Feng Wanli said: "Our place has a high and steep terrain, cold climate, and heavy humidity, but this Sun Yang Yu wine is very beneficial to the body after drinking, it can warm up the whole body. It's an indispensable thing in Ling Xiang City every day. Please have a few more cups."

  As he spoke, he poured wine for Shi Qing and his wife, as well as Zhang Ping and the others. Zhang Ping drank a cup, feeling that the wine was slightly bitter but sweet, with a strong medicinal flavor, and heard it called "Participating in Yang Jade Wine". He thought to himself: "Indeed, this is not ordinary." So he drank two more cups, and suddenly felt dizzy. Then Zhang Ping stood up abruptly, shouting: "What kind of wine is this?"

  Feng Wanli smiled and said: "This Cansun Jade Wine, the wine's nature is indeed a bit fierce, but it shouldn't be difficult for the famous Black and White Twin Swords and the Master of Chang Le Gang, right?"

  As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Ping only saw Shi Zhongyu faint first, followed by Shi Qing and his wife, Mei Fang, who also fainted one after another. Zhang Ping had just drawn his sword, but couldn't resist the dizzy feeling, and fainted too.

  He didn't know how long he had been out, but Zhang Ping slowly came to, only to find that his hands and feet were already shackled. His copper and iron twin swords had also been taken away. In front of him was a dark mass, and he had no idea where he was being held. He calmed himself down, slowly moved his feet, stretched out his hand to feel around, and realized that he was in a two-zhang square stone room. Shi Tianyi was beside him, still unconscious. Shi Qing and his wife, as well as Mei Fang, were probably being held in other places.

  Zhang Ping had just awakened Shi Tianyi, when suddenly a light shot into the small cave, and someone carrying a lantern approached, followed by a clay pot being stuffed into the cave, containing a bowl of rice and a few salted vegetables. Zhang Ping reacted quickly, and with a swift movement, he rushed over. The martial arts skills of the person delivering food were indeed ordinary, and Zhang Ping easily caught him with his Lingyuan Shangshu technique.

  "Throw in the keys for the handcuffs and leg irons," Zhang Ping bellowed. "If you utter even half a sentence of nonsense, I'll immediately sever your heart meridian."

  The Snow Mountain Sect disciple only felt that the person holding him had an unusually great strength, and it seemed that his kung fu was far above his own. In order to save his life, he could only throw the key over. Zhang Ping ordered Shi Tianyi to unlock the handcuffs of the two men and then use iron chains to bind the hands of the Snow Mountain Sect disciple, forcing him to open the door. Seeing that escape was hopeless, the Snow Mountain Sect disciple had no choice but to open the door.

  Zhang Ping went out and captured the Snow Mountain disciple, asking: "Tell me, where are the four people who came with us being held? If you try to deceive me or say you don't know, I'll kill you immediately."

  The Snow Mountain Sect disciple replied: "We have already released them, now we're afraid they've already gone down the mountain."

  Upon hearing Snow Mountain Sect disciple's response, Zhang Ping released a burst of internal energy that shattered his heart meridian.

  Shi Tianyi asked from the side: "Lier brothers, why did you kill him? This is really bad."

  Zhang Ping explained, "This guy is still lying to this day, asking him won't get anything out of it, killing him can prevent him from leaking information." In fact, Zhang Ping was not a bloodthirsty person, but since his rebirth, he had never suffered such a great loss at the hands of anyone other than the two envoys of reward and punishment. Moreover, knowing that he would die on December 8th, he became more and more unscrupulous in his actions.

  Zhang Ping searched him and found two keys, which must be the keys to the stone room opposite. He and Shi Tianyi opened the first door and found another one. Taking out the other key, he opened the second stone gate, and as soon as he pulled it open a few inches, he shouted "Father and mother..."

  Just then, a loud voice was heard from within the room: "Turtle son, turtle grandson, I'll cut you into a thousand pieces and slice you into ten thousand strips, making you die a terrible death..." The sound of iron chains clanking loudly followed. This person's scolding voice was extremely loud, obviously with deep internal energy. However, his tone was dull and hoarse, completely different from Shi Qing's clear and bright Jiangnan accent.

  Zhang Ping said to himself, "The people inside are not weak, and it's hard to distinguish between friend and foe. It's better to have one less thing to worry about. For now, let's first find Uncle and Aunt, they're the most important." He then pulled Shi Tianyi, who wanted to save him, away with him. They quietly closed the two stone doors behind them and walked out along the passageway.

  The passage was extremely long, and after the two of them turned a corner and walked more than ten zhangs, they finally reached the end. They saw that there were doors on both sides. Zhang Ping pushed the left door, which was tightly closed. When Shi Tianyi went to push the right door, it opened with ease.

  After entering the door, it was a small hall. After entering the small hall and not walking for a few steps, I heard the sound of swords clashing from the left, and the fight was very intense. Zhang Ping hurriedly said to Shi Tianyi: "Could it be that my father and mother have already escaped, and are now fighting with someone? Let's go and help them!"

  Two men rushed forward following the sound. The fighting sounds came from the left, but for a while they couldn't find a way through. Zhang Ping saw that the wooden board on the left was not very thick, so he gathered his strength and struck out with one palm, immediately punching a hole in the board. After breaking through the wall, the sound of clashing blades grew louder, and the two men passed through the hole to see a small hall before them, where four white-clad men were using long swords to surround and attack two women.

  Shi Tianyi saw these two women and couldn't help but loudly call out: "Master, Ah Xiu!"