UGB Chapter 10: A Firebird Appears, Mo Chou Makes Her Appearance!
Chapter 10: A Firebird Appears, Mo Chou Makes Her Appearance!
After punishing Zhao Zhijing and his companion, Ouyang Ke immediately ordered the coachman to pack their belongings, hurriedly boarded the carriage, and continued south towards Chencang.
Chang'an City is only half a day's journey from Zhongnan Mountain. The Quanzhen Sect disciples, having suffered such a great loss at the restaurant, will surely return to the mountain to report. If they continue to linger, they might truly be left as "guests" at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain.
Although he has now achieved a minor mastery of the Nine Yang Divine Skill and his internal strength is several levels above what it used to be, his legs are still not fully healed, preventing him from using his lightness skill. If he were to encounter three or four of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen joining forces, he would likely find himself in a predicament.
However, despite saying this, he felt no regret whatsoever.
Zhao Zhijing, that scoundrel, uttered arrogant words in public, insulting his uncle. To cripple his martial arts without killing him was already a great concession to the Quanzhen Sect. As for Yin Zhiping—
Ouyang Ke leaned against the car wall, a playful smile playing on his lips.
This man possessed integrity; even when threatened by Huang Yaoshi, he remained steadfast to the death, far superior to the narrow-minded Zhao Zhijing who later betrayed his ancestors for personal gain. It's just a pity that, due to his excessive infatuation with Xiaolongnü, the successor of the Ancient Tomb Sect, he committed the crime of defiling her while she was under pressure point manipulation.
If such a thing were to actually happen in the future, wouldn't it be a real eyesore?
Little Dragon Girl is still young, and the Quanzhen Sect strictly forbids sexual relations with women. Moreover, given his intrusion in this life, it's uncertain whether the Ancient Tomb Sect will still have Yang Guo in the future. It's best to sever his worldly desires so that he can focus on cultivation in the future, which can be considered as fulfilling his wish.
Of course, the Quanzhen Sect was destined not to appreciate this "good intention."
Ouyang Ke shook his head, deciding not to think about it anymore.
……
Sure enough, less than two hours later, two old Taoist priests flew down into the restaurant in Chang'an.
The first man, with a white beard and eyebrows and a kind expression, was none other than Ma Yu, the leader of the Quanzhen Sect. The other man, with a long, black beard and a spirited demeanor, carried a long sword on his back, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light as he opened and closed; he was none other than Qiu Chuji, the "Changchun Zhenren" (True Man of Everlasting Spring).
As soon as the two appeared, their eyes gleamed as they surveyed their surroundings.
But the corner by the window was already empty.
Qiu Chuji asked in a deep voice, "Shopkeeper, where did that young man who injured someone go?"
The waiter, intimidated by his imposing manner, stammered, "Reporting to the Daoist Master, that young master left the restaurant more than an hour ago. I truly have no idea where he went..."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Chuji frowned and was about to turn around and chase after him.
"Junior Brother Qiu, wait a moment." Ma Yu reached out to stop him, and said slowly, "That Ouyang Ke dared to appear in Chang'an alone and even injured my Quanzhen disciples, he must have something to rely on. Besides... the appointment at Zuixianlou is approaching, have you forgotten?"
Qiu Chuji, brimming with heroic spirit, said, "Senior Brother, you are overthinking it! With the two of us brothers joining forces, surely we can't defeat that old poisoner's nephew?"
Ma Yu shook his head and sighed, "The ways of the world are unpredictable. Back in Dadu, the capital of the Jin Kingdom, if it weren't for the timely arrival of Hero Ke and Hero Zhu, wouldn't the three of us brothers have perished there? We must be wary of such a thing."
He paused, then continued, "Moreover, according to Yin Zhiping, Ouyang Ke seemed to have some difficulty with his legs, and was fighting while sitting in a wheelchair. This is quite strange, and it might be a trap to lure the enemy. If we rashly pursue him, what if Ouyang Feng is lying in ambush ahead..."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Chuji recalled that night in Chongyang Palace years ago, and his expression tightened. Although he was exceptionally bold, he dared not argue further.
He naturally understood his senior brother's concerns—twenty years ago, Ouyang Feng had stormed Chongyang Palace alone at night. Although he was severely injured by the patriarch's Innate Skill and One-Finger Divine Skill, it also revealed his ruthless and unscrupulous style. If that Ouyang Ke was truly bait…
Moreover, back in Dadu (Beijing) of the Jin Dynasty, the two brothers had made a pact with Peng Lianhu, the "Thousand-Handed Butcher," and others at the Misty Rain Pavilion, agreeing to a duel at the Misty Rain Pavilion in Jiaxing six months later, during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Now that the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, how could the Seven Masters of Quanzhen possibly break their promise?
Seeing that his expression had relaxed, Ma Yu said, "Let's go. If Ouyang Ke really has something to hide, we'll definitely meet again in the future. Right now, it's more important to go back to the mountain and take care of our disciples' injuries."
The two exchanged a glance, then floated away and disappeared into the sunset.
……
Meanwhile, in order to avoid possible pursuit by the Quanzhen Sect, Ouyang Ke had already ordered the coachman to sell the carriage and instead ride two donkeys, preparing to cross the Qinling Mountains and head straight for Chencang.
The name Qinling originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Records of the Three Qin states, "South of Chang'an lies a mountain called Qinling." Ban Gu's Rhapsody on the Western Capital also mentions, "In front, one rides the Qinling Mountains, and behind, one crosses the Nine Peaks." This mountain range stretches across the south of Guanzhong, extending for thousands of miles. Its main mountain ranges include Zhongnan Mountain, a "Taoist blessed land," Huashan Mountain, one of the Five Sacred Mountains known for its perilous terrain, and Taibai Mountain near Dasanguan Pass, which is covered in snow all year round and is majestic and spectacular.
As dusk approached that day.
Ouyang Ke and his companion found a sheltered mountain hollow to rest. The driver, Liu San, unloaded their luggage from the donkey's back, took out their dry rations, gathered some dry branches, and lit a campfire.
Not far from Mount Taibai, the area is lush with trees. Looking up, you can even see the snow-capped peaks of Mount Taibai, which gleam with a faint golden light in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Ouyang Ke leaned back on a blue stone, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing.
These days, he has been practicing the Nine Yang Divine Skill every day without fail, and the true energy in his body has become increasingly abundant. The "Tendon Changing and Bone Forging Chapter" complements the Nine Yang Divine Skill, making his meridians gradually unblocked. Even his broken legs seem to have a faint warmth.
Just as he was concentrating, his ear suddenly twitched slightly.
A faint rustling sound came from the grass not far away.
Ouyang Ke opened his eyes and saw a venomous snake as thick as an arm slowly emerging from the grass, raising its head and flicking its tongue, winding its way toward the campfire.
"Young...Young Master!" Liu San was terrified, his face turning deathly pale, and he nearly dropped the dry rations in his hand. "There's a poisonous snake!"
Ouyang Ke, however, remained unperturbed and instead smiled slightly. He placed his finger to his lips and whistled softly.
The whistle was so soft and faint that it was almost impossible to hear unless one listened very carefully.
But upon hearing the whistle, the venomous snake seemed to be frozen in place, its swimming body suddenly stopping. Then, it obediently swam to Ouyang Ke's feet, coiled up, pressed its head against the edge of the bluestone, and remained motionless.
Liu San stared in disbelief: "Young Master, this...this is..."
He naturally didn't know that White Camel Manor was the ancestor of all snake-handling in the world. Although the original owner of this body was proud of his dashing and romantic nature and unwilling to learn the crude methods of manipulating snake formations, he had been exposed to snake-handling techniques since childhood and still knew some of them.
Just as Ouyang Ke was about to speak, a woman's exclamation suddenly came from the grove of trees not far away!
Immediately afterwards, a slender figure darted out from the forest.
The figure moved with incredible speed, yet landed slightly unsteadily. She wore a bamboo hat with a thin veil draped over its brim, obscuring her face. Behind her, several brightly colored venomous snakes pursued relentlessly, hissing and flicking their tongues, their ferocious nature fully revealed.
The woman was in mid-air when she raised her hands, and several silver needles as thin as hair shot out!
hiss hiss hiss—
The silver needles were precisely driven into the vital spots of the venomous snakes, pinning them firmly to the ground. The snakes struggled a few times, then lay still.
As Ouyang Ke watched this scene, his smile deepened.
After the woman landed, he slowly said, "You've followed me all this way, haven't you finally decided to leave?"
The woman in the straw hat turned around, her gaze falling on the motionless venomous snakes at his feet, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She pointed to the nailed snakes, her voice accusatory, "Did you do this?"
Ouyang Ke shook his head, his expression frank: "Miss, you have misunderstood me. It is common for venomous snakes to roam in the desolate mountains. Besides—these few small snakes are not enough to trap you."
Upon hearing this, the woman in the straw hat's eyes flashed with interest, and a slight smile appeared on her lips. She said, "So, you do recognize me?"
Ouyang Ke smiled faintly: "Although your background is mysterious, it cannot be hidden from those who are interested. If I am not mistaken, the hidden weapon you just used was the Ancient Tomb Sect's 'Jade Bee Needle,' wasn't it?"
"Do you really know my background?"
Upon hearing this, the woman in the straw hat finally revealed a hint of surprise in her voice.
This wasn't the first time she'd secretly run away from the mountain to travel. But neither the Taoist priests on Zhongnan Mountain nor the wandering martial artists she encountered along the way had ever recognized her. How could this young man in a wheelchair have seen through her disguise so easily?
Meeting the surprised gaze cast through the thin veil, Ouyang Ke slowly said, "If I am not mistaken, you are a descendant of the Ancient Tomb Sect."
He had already recognized the other person's identity.
This "Red Serpent Fairy," who would later strike fear into the hearts of the martial arts world, was at this moment a bright and cheerful fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl who had not yet met Lu Zhanyuan, the man who had fallen deeply in love with her but was also unfaithful.
Upon hearing this, Li Mochou's surprise turned to delight: "You're the first person to recognize me! Could it be... that you have some connection with my sect?"
It's no wonder she thought that way. The Ancient Tomb Sect had been living in seclusion for a long time, isolated from the world, and almost no one in the martial arts world knew of their existence. Apart from Qiu Chuji and others who had some connection with their founder, no one could recognize the origin of the Ancient Tomb Sect's martial arts at a glance.
Ouyang Ke shook his head: "There's no old friendship, just some things we've seen and heard."
Seeing his calm and indifferent tone, neither warm nor distant, Li Mochou's curiosity grew. Just as she was about to ask again, she saw Ouyang Ke whistle softly once more.
The venomous snake coiled at his feet seemed to understand, and slowly began to move, silently disappearing into the grass.
"Huh?" Li Mochou looked at this scene with surprise in her eyes. "Your method of training snakes is truly amazing! But... if you put it back in the grass, won't it harm someone who comes here in the future?"
Ouyang Ke turned to look at the patch of grass and said calmly, "A venomous snake may be poisonous, but it's not as poisonous as the human heart. Besides, if people don't provoke it, it won't provoke them. As long as we don't provoke it, it will keep quiet."
Li Mochou was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
This sounds novel, but upon closer examination, it seems to make some sense.
Just then, a sharp bird cry suddenly came from afar.
The sound was quite strange, sharp and piercing, yet it possessed an indescribable penetrating power. Upon hearing it, the two felt an itch all over their bodies, a slight nausea in their chests, and an indescribable discomfort.
Ouyang Ke frowned slightly, and the Nine Yang True Qi within his body circulated on its own, instantly dispelling the discomfort.
Li Mochou's internal strength was still shallow, and although she could barely endure it, her expression changed slightly. Liu San, standing to the side, covered his ears with both hands, his face showing pain.
Immediately afterwards, a rich aroma wafted from the air.
Ouyang Ke looked up and saw a ball of fire swooping down from the twilight, descending towards him with incredible speed!
He stared intently—that wasn't fire at all! It was clearly a bird, entirely crimson!
The bird was only slightly larger than a crow, with an extremely long, pointed beak, about half a foot long. It landed on the ground, raised its head, and looked around. Although it was just a small bird, it possessed an awe-inspiring and unapproachable majesty. The strange fragrance emanated from its body.
Li Mochou found the red bird quite adorable; its entire body was crimson, and in the setting sun, its eyes shone like rubies. Coupled with its fragrant aroma, she couldn't help but feel a surge of affection and exclaimed, "What a beautiful bird!"
The red bird seemed to understand her words, and it puffed out its chest, strutted around, and hopped and skipped along the edge of the grass, looking proud, like a victorious general returning home.
In the grass, the venomous snake that Ouyang Ke had just released was already trembling with fear at the sound of the birdsong. It curled up into a ball and dared not move. The red bird cooed, and the venomous snake obediently turned over, revealing its snow-white belly.
With a swift stroke of its long beak, the red bird ripped open the snake's belly. It then pecked at the emerald green gall bladder, swallowing it whole, before raising its head and letting out a triumphant cry.
Li Mochou found it interesting and couldn't help but secretly reach out to stroke the red bird's glossy feathers.
But just as she extended her finger halfway, the red bird suddenly flapped its wings and soared into the air. Li Mochou grasped at empty air and couldn't help but show a look of disappointment.
The red bird, however, seemed to be able to read her expression. It turned around in mid-air and let out a few low chirps at her. The chirps were short and light, almost like mockery.
Li Mochou was both surprised and delighted: "You little rascal, how dare you mock me!"
Fearing she might harm the spirit creature, she dared not use any hidden weapons. Instead, she casually broke off a thin twig from the locust tree beside her and flicked it out with her finger.
Although the slender branch was light and airy, it moved with the speed of an arrow when she channeled her inner strength.
Although she acted swiftly, the red bird, being a naturally intelligent creature, was even faster. It swayed its body, easily dodging the attack, and then suddenly swooped down, aiming straight for Li Mochou's face!
Li Mochou was shocked and quickly used the Ancient Tomb Sect's lightness skill to retreat.
But she was still young, and her light-footed movements were not yet fully developed. Although she retreated quickly, she was still half a step too slow. The red bird pecked at her with its sharp beak, knocking the straw hat off her head!
The sheer veil fluttered down, revealing a stunningly beautiful face.
The young woman was charming and alluring, with bright eyes, white teeth, and skin as smooth and white as jade. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with a gentle light, and her cheeks were slightly flushed, adding to her delicate and lovely appearance. At this moment, she had lost her hat, and was both surprised and angry. The hint of reproach in her eyes was enough to stir one's heart.
"You little rascal!"
Li Mochou suffered a great loss, let out a delicate snort, and suddenly the sword light in her right hand shone brightly.
Her sword strike was incredibly fast; in a flash, it was already in front of the red bird.
The red bird was indeed extraordinary, moving with the agility of a martial arts master. Before it could fully unleash its attack, it flew backward, its back barely grazing the sword's edge, narrowly avoiding the strike.
Immediately, it turned around and pounced on Li Mochou again!
Although Li Mochou's lightness skill was superb, it was ultimately no match for the bird's agility. The red bird darted left and right, soaring up and down, forcing her to defend herself from all sides, causing her to complain repeatedly and appear utterly disheveled.
Ouyang Ke, watching from the side, found it amusing and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle: "What a temperamental bird."
He reached out and picked up a small pebble, aimed at the red shadow in the air, and flicked it with his finger.
The pebble shot through the air!
The red bird, true to its nature, sensed the wind approaching from behind and made a sharp turn in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the stones. Then, it changed direction and charged straight at Ouyang Ke!
"Well done!"
Ouyang Ke smiled and thrust out with his right palm.
Fearing he might harm the spirit creature, he used less than ten percent of his palm strike power. However, though the force was light, the speed was extremely fast; the palm wind arrived first, followed by the power.
How could the red bird withstand it? Sweeped by the palm wind, it immediately fell to the ground.
Li Mochou was overjoyed and quickly reached out to catch it. But the red bird suddenly rolled away, half a foot, and then flapped its wings and soared into the sky.
The two looked up and saw a red light flash across the twilight, disappearing in the direction of Mount Taibai in the blink of an eye.
Li Mochou gazed in the direction where the red bird had disappeared, a pang of regret rising in her heart. She murmured, "That bird... just flew away like that?"
Ouyang Ke gazed at the last rays of the setting sun, a sense of regret creeping into his heart. But he knew all too well that such a spirit creature was not easily subdued. Even if he had captured it just now, winning its complete allegiance would be no easy task.
He withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Li Mochou, only to find her staring at him with curiosity and inquiry in her eyes.
The setting sun cast its glow on her face, making her charming features even more captivating. Her beautiful eyes, clear and bright, held both the innocence of a young girl and a profound depth beyond her years. Compared to Huang Rong's lively and playful nature, she possessed a more natural charm and stubbornness.
Ouyang Ke's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he calmly withdrew it and said, "Such a spiritual creature is not so easily subdued. It's getting late. If you want to return to Zhongnan Mountain, you'd better set off as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Li Mochou gave a huff: "I'll leave whenever I want, it's none of your business!"
Ouyang Ke shook his head, his tone indifferent: "I meant well. If you return late, young lady, you will likely be punished by your elders."
As he said this, his gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he looked away.
The Li Mochou before me was beautiful and charming, even rivaling Huang Rong in beauty. Her face was even more captivating in the twilight, her eyes and brows displaying both the innocence of a young girl and a subtle, natural allure.
If it were the old Ouyang Ke, he would probably already be swayed by temptation and trying every means to get close to her.
However, his legs were still not fully healed, making movement difficult. Moreover, having just glimpsed the profound mysteries of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, his mind was filled with the essence of the four volumes of scriptures, and he only wanted to master the divine skill as soon as possible, restore his legs, and return to his peak. Matters between men and women were truly beyond his reach at the moment.
When Li Mochou heard him mention her master, her heart skipped a beat. She had secretly run away from the mountain several days ago, and if she returned too late, her master would surely be angry. But as her gaze swept over the poisonous snakes she had nailed to death, and then at Ouyang Ke's face, which appeared even more handsome and otherworldly in the twilight, a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart.
This person... is very strange.
He was clearly a master of martial arts, easily defeating two disciples of the Quanzhen Sect's Ox-Nose Sect with a single move, yet he was so lenient towards the poisonous snake; he clearly saw through his origins, yet he remained indifferent, neither warm nor distant.
All of this inevitably arouses curiosity.
Her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had thought of something.
"I won't!"
She gave a huff, then, as if in a fit of pique, found an open space, gathered some dry branches, and lit a bonfire. She then sat down beside the fire, hugging her knees, gazing at the flickering flames, lost in thought.
Seeing that she insisted on staying, Ouyang Ke said nothing more. He simply shook his head and instructed Liu San to prepare some hot soup so they could rest.
As night deepened, the campfire flickered.