While on Mount Hua, my mind is at peace!

Chapter 33 Selling Lin Pingzhi

Xie Tianqing sighed softly, "Since I left Sichuan, everything I've seen and heard has been malicious. I never expected to hear a fair word outside Hengyang, especially from the young master of the Huashan Sect. This trip to Hengyang was definitely worthwhile."

He picked up his wine bowl, took a sip, and then heard Yue Feng say, "Right and wrong will be judged by public opinion, why bother with what others say? A person in the martial world only needs one or two close friends in this world, and that is enough. Come, let me offer you a bowl to thank you, brother."

The two finished their bowl in one gulp. Xie Tianqing's face flushed, and he put down his bowl, saying to Yue Feng, "To be honest, Brother Yue, before I actually met you, I was determined to fight you to the death."

Yue Feng and Deng Jun exchanged glances, then asked with a smile, "Oh? Why?"

"Brother Yue, don't play dumb. You impersonated a Shaolin monk in Putian and stole the martial arts manual of my Qingcheng Sect. Yu Canghai died in Fujian before he could settle accounts with you. As the new head of the Qingcheng Sect, this old debt naturally falls on my shoulders."

Yue Feng explained in detail, "I have already given that manual to Hua Yong of the Southern Shaolin Temple. I thought he would return it to Yu Canghai. Why hasn't he returned it?"

Xie Tianqing said in surprise, "Is that so? I didn't know. Perhaps it was returned, but with Yu Canghai dead, the whereabouts of the manual are unknown."

Yue Feng lowered his voice and said to Xie Tianqing, "This is easy to handle. To be honest, I remember every single word in that manual. I'll find a quiet place, write it down from memory, and give it to Brother Xie. Wouldn't that solve the problem?"

Xie Tianqing glanced at Yue Feng with a complicated expression: "Do you know that this manual is a priceless treasure of my Qingcheng Sect? And now you've memorized it? You…"

Yue Feng said confidently, "If I hadn't memorized that manual, your Qingcheng Sect's divine skill would have truly been lost."

Xie Tianqing thought for a long time, and then nodded: "That makes sense."

Listening to this, Lin Pingzhi was utterly impressed by Yue Feng. Good heavens, he stole someone's secret manual and then acted like a good guy? Is there no justice left in this martial world?

Xie Tianqing had a low alcohol tolerance and was eager for Yue Feng to copy the secret manual, so he stopped drinking and invited Yue Feng to go to the inn with him. As Yue Feng asked, it turned out that the inn that the Qingcheng Sect had booked was the same one where Yue Feng and his companions were staying.

The group returned to the inn. Yue Feng and Xie Tianqing dismissed everyone and found a quiet room. Yue Feng borrowed writing materials from the inn and quickly copied down the secret manual from memory. Xie Tianqing solemnly took it, checked it to confirm it was correct, and said to Yue Feng:

"Although this Golden Bell Shield Divine Skill originally belonged to my Qingcheng Sect, Brother Yue, you are returning it to its rightful owner. However, since you took the initiative to offer this service, I still owe you a favor. If you need anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."

Yue Feng smiled and said, "Since that's the case, I do have a small wish. You've met that young镖头 (bodyguard/escort) Lin Pingzhi. He has a good character, but he's too young, and his internal strength is far from sufficient."

"I would like to ask Brother Xie if you have any methods to quickly develop internal strength. If so, I can exchange other martial arts techniques with you."

Xie Tianqing frowned and said, "The path of internal energy cultivation should always be gradual. Any shortcut is a heretical path. However... my Qingcheng Sect does have an internal energy cultivation method called 'Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian' (Muscle and Bone Strengthening Chapter)."

"Practicing this skill is like laying a solid foundation for a towering building; it makes practicing other skills much easier. However, this internal skill, like the Golden Bell Cover and the Heart-Shattering Palm, is a closely guarded secret of my Qingcheng Sect. Please forgive me for not being able to exchange it with Brother Yue."

Yue Feng nodded in understanding, then suddenly asked, "Brother Xie, have you ever heard of the Nine Yin Manual?"

Xie Tianqing's eyelids twitched, and he answered decisively, "Never heard of it."

"Brother Xie, stop pretending. You can't hide it from me." Yue Feng smiled. "I know far more about this Nine Yin Manual than you do."

Yue Feng then gave Xie Tianqing a general account of the plot of Jin Yong's Condor Trilogy, especially the plots of The Return of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes. Xie Tianqing listened with a sense of bewilderment, seemingly unwilling to believe it, but Yue Feng's understanding of the Nine Yin Manual was indeed much greater than that of the Qingcheng Sect Leader.

Xie Tianqing believed Yue Feng and told him what he knew about the history of the Qingcheng Sect and the Nine Yin Manual.

It turns out that the Qingcheng Sect has been dedicated to finding more fragments of the Heart-Shattering Palm technique since they discovered it in Sichuan many years ago.

The Heart-Shattering Palm technique was found by Yu Canghai's branch, which enabled Yu Canghai to ascend to the position of sect leader. The Golden Bell Shield technique was found by another branch, which was later absorbed by Yu Canghai's branch, and the Golden Bell Shield technique also fell into Yu Canghai's hands.

Because the Golden Bell Cover technique is closer to the Buddhist lineage and contradicts the original martial arts system of the Qingcheng Sect, Yu Canghai gave it to the Southern Shaolin Temple as a gift, actually intending to cooperate with the masters of the Southern Shaolin Temple and adapt it.

As for the Yi Jin Duan Gu (Muscle/Tendon Changing and Bone Strengthening) manual that Xie Tianqing just mentioned, it is a secret treasure of Xie Tianqing's lineage. It is precisely because Xie Tianqing practiced the Yi Jin Duan Gu manual at a young age that he possesses his current skills. It can be said that the Yi Jin Duan Gu manual is the foundation upon which Xie Tianqing's lineage stands.

Upon hearing this, Yue Feng essentially gave up on the idea of ​​obtaining the Yi Jin Duan Gu Manual. At least for now, he didn't have any ill will towards the newly appointed Qingcheng Sect Leader, and he disdained to engage in such underhanded tactics.

But Xie Tianqing said, "However... if Brother Yue really wants Young Master Lin to learn the Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian, there is a way."

"I wonder if this young镖头 (bodyguard/escort) Lin has already taken on a master? If not, we can have him join our Qingcheng Sect. That way, as long as he passes the assessment, he will have a chance to learn the Yi Jin Duan Gu (Muscle/Tendon Changing and Bone Strengthening Manual)."

Yue Feng could hardly believe his ears. Lin Pingzhi, the young head镖师 (bodyguard) of the Fuwei Escort Agency, was to become a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect? Although upon closer inspection, it did seem like a logical approach, something still felt off. He pondered for a long time before asking Xie Tianqing:

How high are the chances?

Xie Tianqing said sincerely, "In the Qingcheng Sect, only the candidates for sect leader of my branch can receive the Yi Jin Duan Gu Manual. And to become a candidate for sect leader, one must first become a disciple of an elder."

"My master is the elder of my lineage. I can write him a letter and introduce Young Master Lin to become his disciple. As for whether he can succeed, that depends on his own fate."

Yue Feng immediately summoned Lin Pingzhi and said bluntly, "Pack your things, take this letter of introduction from Sect Leader Xie, and go to the Qingcheng Sect to become an apprentice and learn martial arts."

"Huh? Me?" Lin Pingzhi pointed to himself, looking completely bewildered.

"That's right, it's you. You killed Tian Boguang and your reputation has soared. I'm sure many experts will come to challenge you. You'd better find a quiet place to hide right now."

A moment later, Lin Pingzhi emerged from the room with a letter in his hand, his head still buzzing. He stood at the door for a while, then suddenly thought, "Was I betrayed by Mr. Yue?"