Chapter 29

Only to see the soldiers holding the portraits of Luo Fan and Yang Guo, who were disguised as Ye Gucheng and Xi Men Chuixue, comparing them with everyone one by one. Then the soldier looked at Luo Fan and Yang Guo and said, "You two look unfamiliar!"

"This is the newly appointed steward and manager from the higher-ups," a somewhat displeased voice came from the side. Everyone looked over and saw it was the ship's manager. The manager was a middle-aged man with a square face, broad forehead, and a somewhat stern look. His patched hemp clothes were very clean, unlike the slovenly appearance of most of the Beggar Sect disciples. He walked slowly to the front of the leading soldier, glared at him, and said, "What? Do you even suspect the Beggar Sect's ship?"

"No... The Beggar Sect is loyal and righteous. I would never suspect the Beggar Sect," the soldier smiled, carefully examining the two men. He found they were not the ones in the portraits. Then he noticed the seven bags hanging on Luo Fan, and his heart was instantly startled. This was a seven-bag disciple of the Beggar Sect, just one level below the head of the Lin'an branch, Old Yu!

Therefore, the soldier did not want to offend Luo Fan too much. Methods like stripping off clothes to check for wounds, which were somewhat humiliating, were naturally not appropriate. So he lightly but firmly patted Luo Fan's chest and abdomen, saying, "To become a seven-bag steward at such a young age, you are truly a young hero!" As he patted, he subtly used his internal energy!

However, before his palm landed, Luo Fan had already noticed. His Nine Yang Divine Skill was already perfected, and he could completely block the internal energy while suppressing the rebound of the Nine Yang internal energy. Without internal energy support, this pat became a genuine pat. Plus, the effectiveness of the golden wound medicine and the healing power of the Nine Yang Divine Skill overnight, even if the pat landed near Luo Fan's wound, it did not reveal any weakness.

Luo Fan's expression turned cold, and he grabbed and twisted the soldier's hand. The soldier immediately cried out in pain. Then Luo Fan, pretending to be displeased, shouted, "What are you doing?" At this moment, he was a steward, and being struck with internal energy for no reason, even though it didn't hurt, his face definitely wouldn't look good. Luo Fan had experienced some storms in recent years and was much more composed and calm, so his performance was quite convincing.

"Spare me! Spare me, I just saw such a young and talented hero and got itchy hands... got itchy hands!" The soldier begged for mercy in pain. Luo Fan glared at him for a while, and when he saw the soldier couldn't take it anymore, he let go of his hand. The current court was weak, and although there was a red-robed eunuch guarding the palace, it was hard to support alone. Moreover, the Beggar Sect was a great help in defending against foreign enemies, so the court did not want to offend them unless necessary. Therefore, the soldier, seeing that the person in front of him was not to be trifled with, quickly turned and left.

After the inspection, the Beggar Sect's merchant ship raised its sails and slowly set sail. Luo Fan stood at the bow of the ship, the river breeze blowing his hair, making it flutter. He watched the buildings and pedestrians on both banks slowly recede, the speed gradually increasing, and finally stabilizing. Eventually, the city walls of Lin'an were left behind. At this moment, Luo Fan finally smiled.

Turning around, Luo Fan smiled and bowed to the Beggar Sect members, saying, "Thank you all for your protection. I am deeply grateful, and if there is anything I can do in the future, I will not hesitate!"

Everyone bowed and politely replied. At this moment, Luo Fan saw a small boat passing by and bowed to the Beggar Sect members again, saying, "You don't need to see me off any further. I can go ashore on my own." Saying this, he used his lightness skill to leave the ship, lightly touching the water with his toes, and landed steadily on the small boat. Yang Guo also had some skill, and after leaving the ship, he walked on the water for a while and also got on the small boat, though his steps were a bit unsteady and he swayed a few times before stabilizing.

"Boatman, do you mind giving us a ride?" As he spoke, he took out a few pieces of silver and handed them to the old boatman.

The old boatman, bent over, stretched out his hand like tree bark and lifted the brim of his straw hat, looked at Luo Fan, and took the silver, asking, "Where are you going, sir?" His voice was hoarse and low.

Luo Fan smiled and looked at the shore, answering, "Just to the shore."

Leaving Lin'an, Luo Fan's mood was greatly improved. Since he had come to Lin'an, how could he not visit the West Lake, especially the ancient West Lake that modern people could not see! So Luo Fan took Yang Guo to the West Lake.

Lin'an, now known as Hangzhou, is located in the west of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, in the center of the city. The West Lake is a famous lagoon, formerly known as Wulin Water or Xizi Lake, and is one of the three famous lakes in southern China.

The lake area is famous for the beautiful scenery of the Su Causeway and the Bai Causeway. The Su Causeway and the Bai Causeway are very beautiful, running across the West Lake, dividing it into five parts: the West Lake, the Small South Lake, the Yue Lake, the Outer Lake, and the Inner Lake. Every morning, when the mist rises and the lake surface is covered in a light fog, the "Six Bridges in Misty Willows" appears, one of the ten scenic spots of Qiantang. The lake is divided by Solitary Hill, the Bai Causeway, the Su Causeway, and the Yanggong Causeway into five parts: the Outer West Lake, the Inner West Lake, the North Inner Lake, the Small South Lake, and the Yue Lake, with the Outer West Lake being the largest. Solitary Hill is the largest natural island in the West Lake. The Su Causeway and the Bai Causeway cross the lake, and the three artificial islands—Xiaoyingzhou, Huxin Pavilion, and Ruangong Dun—stand in the center of the Outer West Lake. The Leifeng Pagoda on Sunset Hill and the Baochu Pagoda on Baoshi Hill face each other across the lake, forming the basic layout of "one mountain, two pagodas, three islands, four causeways, and five lakes."

The ten scenic spots of the West Lake during the Southern Song Dynasty were slightly different from today's, including: Su Causeway in Spring, Lotus in the Breezy Courtyard, Moon over the Calm Lake in Autumn, Snow on the Broken Bridge, Orioles Singing in the Willow, Fish Viewing at Huagang, Evening Glow at Leifeng Pagoda, Clouds over the Twin Peaks, Evening Bell at Nanping Hill, and Reflections of the Three Pools. They are distributed around the West Lake, some on the lake, each with its own charm, and together they represent the essence of the ancient West Lake.

Walking on the Su Causeway, it was spring, and the new willows were like smoke, the spring breeze was gentle, and the birds were singing, very charming. A light breeze blew, and looking at the willows swaying by the road and the shimmering lake, Luo Fan felt he understood Su Shi's line "I would compare the West Lake to Xi Shi" a bit more.

The lake surface was like a mirror, and literati and scholars were boating. A few colorful boats floated on the lake, like a few red flowers in the vast green water, adding more color to the West Lake.

A flute sound seemed to rise from the lake, elegant and calm, like the calm lake surface. Then the rhythm of the tune gradually quickened, like the tide slowly approaching. Luo Fan followed the sound and saw a small boat gently passing by. On the bow stood a man in a green robe, wearing a matching square cap, with a scholarly appearance. He was thin and tall, with a refined and elegant demeanor, looking like a god. He held a green bamboo flute, from which the sound came.

Behind him stood a graceful and charming woman in a green robe, with a crystal-clear complexion, skin as white as snow, and a small dimple on her oval face, beautiful and serene.

"Why do these two people seem familiar?" Luo Fan stared at them for a while, looking puzzled, and then thought, "Could it be him?"

Suddenly, the flute sound changed, like a surging flood, white waves rising, fish leaping and whales floating in the tide, seagulls flying in the wind, and even water spirits and sea monsters playing in the waves. Then an iceberg appeared, and the sea boiled, showing all kinds of changes. Finally, the tide receded, and the lake was calm again, but the undercurrents were still turbulent, hiding dangers.

After the tune ended, Luo Fan suddenly thought of someone, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Is that the Lord of Peach Blossom Island, Huang Yaoshi, on the boat?"

"Do you know me?" The man in the green robe glanced at Luo Fan on the shore, seemingly surprised. He rarely traveled in the martial world, and although he was famous, it shouldn't be easy for just anyone to recognize him.

"Indeed, it is him!" Luo Fan was surprised to meet one of the Five Greats, Huang Yaoshi, here. He had always admired Huang Yaoshi's free and easy manner and extensive knowledge while reading "The Return of the Condor Heroes." Now, seeing him in person, he felt even more that he was extraordinary. He bowed and said, "I am Luo Fan of the Quanzhen Sect, and I greet Lord Huang."

"Quanzhen Luo Fan?" Huang Yaoshi was taken aback, looked him up and down, and said, "I heard about you from Guo Jing. He said you usually wear white, but why are you in Beggar Sect clothes today?"

Luo Fan smiled bitterly and replied, "Lord Huang, you don't know. Something strange happened in Lin'an, and people could enter but not leave. Fortunately, Old Hong gave me a token, and I asked the Beggar Sect for help to get out of the city."

"I see." Huang Yaoshi nodded slightly, thinking that the old beggar must have a high regard for this young man. Then he asked, "Guo Jing praised your sword skills to the skies. I wonder how they compare to my Jade Flute Sword Technique?"

Luo Fan thought for a moment. He knew that the Jade Flute Sword Technique wasn't described as particularly powerful in Jin Yong's works, but the Nine Swords of Dugu were almost at the highest level in Jin Yong's novels. He thought the Nine Swords of Dugu were probably more powerful, but it seemed presumptuous to say his own sword skills were better, so he hesitated and said, "I... I'm not sure."

"Let's have a match, and we'll see!" Saying this, Huang Yaoshi held the flute like a sword, stepped on the edge of the boat, and thrust at Luo Fan.

"What the hell is this?" Luo Fan was injured and didn't want to fight, but seeing Huang Yaoshi's flute coming close, he quickly drew the sword from Yang Guo's hand, sidestepped to avoid the thrust, and Huang Yaoshi half-turned, swung the flute backward, and used the "Clear Sound Beyond the Mountains" technique to point at Luo Fan's "Yunmen" acupoint on his left shoulder. Luo Fan shrugged his shoulder, as if he had anticipated it, and barely avoided the point. At the same time, he attacked the opening in Huang Yaoshi's waist and abdomen. Huang Yaoshi drew the flute back to block, and then the flute struck Luo Fan's sword, sending a shock through the sword to Luo Fan's hand, making his grip loosen. Then Luo Fan felt a sticky force on the flute, pulling his sword toward his left arm.

Luo Fan remained calm, wrapped his sword around the jade flute, skillfully avoiding the pull, and then slid the sword along the flute toward Huang Yaoshi's hand.

Suddenly, Huang Yaoshi's flute flickered, seeming to split into several, and a sticky force made it hard to control Luo Fan's sword. The sword missed, and a clear flute sound rang out. Huang Yaoshi's flute turned into several green streaks, pointing at several of Luo Fan's major acupoints. These streaks were both real and illusory, changing at will. If a normal person saw them, they wouldn't know which to block.

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Today, I got stuck while writing and spent a few hours, and now my head still hurts. The second chapter might be a bit late... Tomorrow, I have a bit of something to do, so the second chapter might also be a bit late...

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