Chapter 24

As Su Zhong walked through the Green Bamboo Alley, he decided to tell Ren Yingying about Ren Woxing's whereabouts today.

It had been half a month since he started learning the zither. Lin Zhenan and his wife decided to travel south with Lin Pingzhi, taking a detour to Fuzhou City. One reason was to visit their old home, and the other was for Lin Zhenan to gather some old hands from the escort agency.

All matters on Peach Blossom Island were now on track. Lin Zhenan wanted to gather the old hands from the escort agency to be responsible for the sales of the Bamboo Leaf Green. Su Zhong had no objections; it was always safer to find people with a solid background.

At this moment, a gray figure suddenly appeared in front of Su Zhong. Without any warning, a blade of light, like a bolt of silk, quickly flew towards Su Zhong.

Su Zhong remained calm in the face of danger, quickly retreating by tapping his toes.

The man did not give up, missing with his first strike. He struck again, slashing left and right, forming a dense web of blades in an instant.

Su Zhong narrowed his eyes, and his retreating figure suddenly stopped. A green light flashed from his waist, and he merged with the sword, a dazzling and beautiful sword light flashing by.

Clang, clang, clang...

Sparks flew, and the web of blades shattered.

Su Zhong's figure shot forward like a cannonball, creating a powerful sonic boom.

"Stop!" Ren Yingying, deep in the Green Bamboo Alley, called out anxiously.

Swoosh!

Blood splattered.

At the last moment, the gray-clad man suddenly moved to the right, dodging Su Zhong's sword aimed at his heart. However, he was still stabbed in the shoulder. The man, fierce and ruthless, threw his long saber, aiming directly at Su Zhong's face.

Su Zhong dodged by tilting his head. The man took the opportunity to quickly retreat, covering Ren Yingying with one hand on his left shoulder.

"Xiang Wentian?" Su Zhong shook the blood off his sword and sheathed it.

"Lin Yang, the Death-Dealing Sword?! Who are you, how can you have such martial arts?! How do you know the whereabouts of the leader?!" Xiang Wentian's face was pale, and he shouted with caution.

"Lin Yang. Do you think our divine sect can be taken lightly? You are too reckless!" Ren Yingying's face was stern.

"Ren Woxing is at the bottom of the West Lake." Su Zhong said and turned to leave. He didn't want to waste time on these irrelevant people. If he had that time, he might as well practice his sword skills.

"Miss, do you know this person's background?" Xiang Wentian, watching Su Zhong's figure disappear at the alley entrance, quickly pressed his shoulder to stop the bleeding and asked.

"I don't know much, only that this person is the eldest son of Lin Zhenan, the former head of the Fuyi Escort Agency. He suddenly appeared in Hengshan City half a year ago, admitting to being the Death-Dealing Sword. At the same time, he killed two famous martial artists, Tian Boguang and Yu Canghai, gaining a reputation. Later, it was rumored that the famous camel of the north, Mu Gaofeng, was also killed by him. Oh, the Bamboo Leaf Green, which is now selling well, seems to be related to him. He seems to be living in seclusion on an island in the East Sea. That's all the scattered information I can find. However, his sword skills are very powerful, and it is said in the martial world that it is the Lin family's Exorcism Sword Technique."

Xiang Wentian shook his head: "This is not the Exorcism Sword Technique."

"Not?" Ren Yingying asked in surprise.

"Miss, the divine sect has detailed records of the Exorcism Sword Technique, describing it as fast as a ghost, demonic and bizarre. However, this person's sword technique, although equally fast and bizarre, lacks any demonic or bizarre aura. Instead, it has a grand and destructive flavor. More importantly, this person's internal energy is cold and powerful, and he has already reached the late stage of innate energy at a young age. He is already a top martial artist in the world! Truly a genius." Xiang Wentian sighed.

"Late stage of innate energy?! How old is he?!" Ren Yingying exclaimed.

"If the righteous path has such a person, it is greatly detrimental to our divine sect." Xiang Wentian was worried.

Ren Yingying thought for a moment and suddenly said, "The appearance of this person is not necessarily a bad thing."

"What do you think, Miss?" Xiang Wentian asked curiously.

"Being so young and having such high cultivation, he will never be content to be subordinate to anyone. Zuo Lengshan has been causing trouble for years and will surely try to deal with him. Two tigers fighting, one must be injured. No matter who is hurt, it will be good news for our divine sect. Moreover, I have heard that this person is a martial arts fanatic. From the age of six, he lived in seclusion in the mountains, practicing sword skills alone for ten years. He also went to Huashan to challenge others. This time, he told us about his father's whereabouts just to challenge Dongfang Bubai. This can be described as madness. As long as we do not provoke him, he will not be our enemy."

Ren Yingying's analysis was logical and reasonable. Xiang Wentian, an old hand in the martial world, quickly understood the key points.

"Miss, you are right. This person daring to challenge Dongfang Bubai is truly a madman." Xiang Wentian sighed.

"Uncle Xiang, what should we do next?" Ren Yingying asked.

Xiang Wentian said, "Miss, I have already found some clues. Combining this person's information, we can confirm that the leader is indeed imprisoned in the West Lake. Dongfang Bubai has great power, so we can only use intelligence, not force. I suggest that Miss continue with your usual activities and create some big disturbances to attract others' attention. I will secretly gather people and quietly rescue the leader."

Ren Yingying thought for a moment and realized that they could not panic. If they attracted the attention of the divine sect's internal personnel and reported to Dongfang Bubai, their actions would fail.

"Alright. I will leave this matter to Uncle Xiang." Ren Yingying bowed to Xiang Wentian.

Xiang Wentian hurriedly returned the bow, saying he was not worthy.

"Uncle Xiang, should we really take Lin Yang to Blackwood Cliff?" Ren Yingying thought of Su Zhong's condition.

Xiang Wentian pondered for a moment and said, "Let's not worry about him for now. After we rescue the leader, let the leader decide."

Ren Yingying nodded in agreement, thinking of what Su Zhong said when he proposed the condition. At that time, he clearly stated that after they rescued his father, they would take him to Blackwood Cliff, and it seemed that he was certain his father would take him. How did he know? Ren Yingying was puzzled.

...

Su Zhong strolled down the street, quickly forgetting about the incident in the Green Bamboo Alley.

He soon returned to his courtyard in the mansion, preparing to play the zither. He did not learn the zither for entertainment but to cultivate sword intent. In the "Thirteen Death-Dealing Swords," the first twelve are techniques, but the thirteenth involves sword intent. This mysterious and elusive concept is often only understood intuitively and cannot be taught. To advance in sword intent, mere practice of sword techniques is insufficient.

The most common method is to travel through mountains and rivers to understand nature. For half a year, Su Zhong faced the sea every day to purify his sword intent. However, this method is too broad. Su Zhong thought of the zither. The sounds of the zither contain the three harmonies of heaven, earth, and humanity. Many famous pieces by predecessors contain their understanding of these elements.

Through these zither sounds, Su Zhong could feel the predecessors' understanding of nature and integrate it into his sword skills, thereby enhancing his sword intent and striving to achieve a complete sword intent as soon as possible.

However, just as he began to play a few notes, Lin Zhenan and his wife walked in.

"Yang'er, that cultivation method really affects the bloodline. Can't you change it? Our Lin family cannot be without descendants," Lin's wife said as soon as she sat down, holding Su Zhong's hand and nagging.

"Mother, I've already said many times. The Death-Dealing Sword Technique only seals the essence and energy, it doesn't prevent having children. Once the technique is perfected, one can have children normally," Su Zhong said helplessly.

Lin's wife was dissatisfied: "It takes twenty years to perfect. By the time Pingzhi completes it, we will be in our fifties and sixties. We won't even be able to hold our grandchild! Change it, change it. Isn't this technique created by you? Modify it."

"Mother, modifying the technique is not easy. Moreover, it involves the operation of internal energy, which is very delicate. If I make a mistake, not only will the problem not be solved, but it might truly prevent having children. What then?" Su Zhong exaggerated.

Lin's wife was at a loss, hesitated for a moment, and then said firmly, "If it doesn't work, get married quickly. Since you have already perfected the technique, it won't affect you."

Su Zhong just smiled at Lin's wife without saying a word.

After a long time, Lin's wife sighed, "Alright, alright, I won't interfere. Do as you wish."

Seeing that Lin's wife finally accepted the Death-Dealing Sword Technique, Su Zhong smiled slightly and said, "I didn't create the 'Twelve Death-Dealing Swords' casually. Sealing the essence and energy for twenty years, when the technique is perfected, the practitioner will be full of energy and vitality, making it easier to have excellent offspring. This way, our Lin family can continue for a long time."

"You mean, after sealing it, one can definitely conceive?!" Lin's wife's eyes lit up.

Su Zhong nodded, "Yes. And because of the abundant yang energy, the offspring will definitely be male."

"That's great. As long as we practice this technique, we will definitely have a grandson," Lin's wife said joyfully.

Lin Zhenan, who had been worried, also looked relieved. Thinking that although the age for having children would be older after practicing the Death-Dealing Sword Technique, as long as they practiced, they would definitely have a male child. This was truly a rare and valuable technique! His face lit up with joy.

Su Zhong watched the two, who were excited and happy, with a smile, but his heart was unmoved. He did not care about gender, and the preference for boys over girls was a bad custom to him. However, for Lin Zhenan and his wife, who lived in ancient times, it was a normal matter. Since Su Zhong wanted to do something, he would follow their wishes, not in vain for the body they gave him in this life.

"Moreover, with my guidance, Pingzhi will have a son in three to five years. Mother, you won't have to wait that long," Su Zhong said.

"Really?" Lin's wife was both surprised and delighted, and Lin Zhenan also smiled at Su Zhong.

"Why didn't you say this earlier? You made me worry for so long," Lin's wife complained.

Su Zhong patted Lin's wife's hand and said, "Mother, I only thought of this solution to meet your requirements. I couldn't tell you earlier because I wasn't sure."

"Alright, my son is filial." Lin's wife smiled, thinking that in three to five years, she would definitely have a big, fat grandson. Others would still be anxious, but she was certain. The thought made her feel good