Chapter 139: Reunion with Chu Qiuyu

Chapter 139: Reunion with Chu Qiuyu

"Zhuge Changtian, come out!!!"

Amidst the chaos, a voice suddenly echoed from within the Jiaolong Association's water fortress.

The voice was deep and resonant, indicating extraordinary internal strength.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun exchanged glances, suddenly understanding.

"I wondered why we managed to pass through their fleet of boats blocking the river, only to have three ships approach... It turns out they were stretched thin."

Su Mo glanced at the large ships not far away and asked Yang Xiaoyun, "Sister Xiaoyun, can you tell where they're from?"

"Red Leaf Gang, Xuanlong Village, Green Snake Alliance...

"They are the three major bandits who have been descending along the river. With the Jiaolong Association acting so recklessly, it's no wonder these people couldn't sit still anymore."

Yang Xiaoyun, as always, was well-informed and quickly identified the identities of the newcomers.

After a moment's thought, Su Mo smiled and said, "Let's go; it won't be easy to witness the commotion at the Jiaolong Association. If we see it, we shouldn't miss it."

He took Yang Xiaoyun's hand, and their light boat cut through the waves, reaching the scene in moments.

They didn't appear directly before the crowd but skillfully turned and approached from the side, reaching the outskirts of the Jiaolong Association.

Here, giant trees formed a wall, blocking outsiders.

Su Mo, holding Yang Xiaoyun's hand, leaped over ten feet in one bound. Both of them pushed off the giant tree trunks with their hands, using the Gecko Wall-Climbing technique from the Divine Movement skills to gain additional momentum, landing on the wall.

Inside the Jiaolong Association, flames were now raging.

Although the invaders were outnumbered, their martial arts were formidable, making it difficult for the Jiaolong Association, despite its numerical advantage, to resist.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun didn't rush in but found a roof to sit on and watch the spectacle.

In a short while, the group had already reached the central square of the Jiaolong Association.

"Where is Zhuge Changtian? Come out!!!"

The same voice sounded again. This time, Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun could clearly see that the speaker was a middle-aged man.

With a full beard, he stood bare-chested even in the cold winter, his physique robust and imposing. His iron palms left no match wherever they struck.

Behind him were several others, including a man with a face like jade, appearing as a gentle and refined gentleman.

He held a folding fan, occasionally opening it to reveal a green snake on the fan's surface.

There were also three women surrounding a middle-aged woman, each wielding a nine-section whip, leaving a fierce whip wind in their wake.

Another large man carried an unusual weapon, a single-legged copper spear!

The single-legged copper spear was originally a heavy battlefield weapon, usable only by those with great strength.

Later, someone adapted this skill for ground combat, integrating it into martial arts, giving it a new dimension.

However, the essence remained the same: only those with immense strength could wield it.

This large man alternated between holding the spear with one or both hands, making it dance so densely that no one from the Jiaolong Association dared to engage him, turning and fleeing instead.

Who would dare fight when a touch meant death?

Even Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun, watching from the rooftop, found him truly formidable.

Yang Xiaoyun whispered in Su Mo's ear, "The man shouting is the chief of Xuanlong Village. It's said he has no special background, originally just a water pirate in Xuanlong Village, but through perseverance, he rose to his current position. His martial art is called [Xuan Heavy Palm], a secret technique of Xuanlong Village.

"However, ordinary people don't use it with such power. In his hands, this skill has made Xuanlong Village's name even more renowned."

She then pointed to the man holding the folding fan and said, "This person is the grandmaster of the Green Snake Alliance. He appears as gentle as jade, but he has a nickname, 'Snake Mouth.'"

"Snake Mouth?"

Su Mo found it interesting: "Like the green snake's mouth, the sting of the yellow wasp's tail?"

"The most venomous of all, especially the heart of a woman."

Yang Xiaoyun pursed her lips: "They have taken this saying to heart. The Green Snake Alliance has a bad reputation, resorting to any means to achieve their goals. Ambushes, treachery, poisoning... they are adept at these tactics and are known for their ruthlessness. There's a saying on the river: 'Better to see the tears of the Jade Water Lady than the smile of the Green Snake Mouth.'

"When the Jade Water Lady cries, storms will rise on the river, making business difficult.

"But there's still a chance to survive.

"However, if the Green Snake Mouth smiles at you, it usually means he has already devised dozens of deadly plans in his mind. Even if you manage to avoid one, you won't escape the rest, almost certainly leading to your death.

"Of course, these are exaggerated rumors, but they show how much the people on the river fear him."

Su Mo nodded: "What about those women?"

"Members of the Red Leaf Gang."

Yang Xiaoyun gave Su Mo a peculiar look: "You might like the Red Leaf Gang..."

"???"

Su Mo looked at Yang Xiaoyun in confusion.

Yang Xiaoyun whispered, "In the Red Leaf Gang, all members are widows and unmarried women. Life on the river can be unpredictable. If a man falls into the water or dies unexpectedly, it's quite common. When a man dies, his wife becomes a widow. If she has family, she may be taken in, but if she has no family or is rejected by both sides, she is left alone and destitute."

Later, a heroic woman passed through this place and rescued such a widow.

Upon learning of her plight, she took it upon herself to gather these destitute individuals around her, teaching them martial arts in the hope that they would become self-reliant.

After the expert left, these people formed the Red Leaf Gang.

They made a name for themselves along the river.

Many who had lost their support came to join them, and their influence grew day by day.

As a result, many women who fled from forced marriages or were abandoned by unfaithful partners also sought refuge with the Red Leaf Gang.

In recent years, the Red Leaf Gang has become a path for women along the river, where families send their daughters not only to ensure they have food to eat but also to improve the family's living conditions.

This has further strengthened the Red Leaf Gang.

Perhaps because they are all women, they are naturally at a disadvantage compared to men, so their methods are not as sinister as those of the Green Snake Alliance.

But in terms of ruthlessness, they surpass even the Green Snake Alliance.

Otherwise, it would not be enough to warn those who have designs on them.

After hearing this, Su Mo understood the composition of the Red Leaf Gang, but he could not agree with Yang Xiaoyun’s suggestion that he might like the Red Leaf Gang.

"They were pitiful in the past, but now that they have such skills, they are no longer pitiful. Saying I would like them... isn't that baseless?"

"Hmm? Among so many women, there are quite a few who are as beautiful as flowers. Wouldn't you like them?"

Yang Xiaoyun gave Su Mo a strange look: "I once heard one of my subordinates whisper that if they could join the Red Leaf Gang and be accepted by these women, they wouldn't trade it for ten thousand taels of gold..."

"Uh..."

The corner of Su Mo's mouth twitched: "There are countless women in the world, each with their own merits. Do you think I would like every single one I see?"

"Of course not."

Yang Xiaoyun nodded: "However, as a man, having multiple wives is common. If you truly encounter a woman you like, remember to tell me so I can carefully examine her character. If she is not worthy of entering our family or brings shame to our name, don't blame me for intervening.

"It's better to tell you now than to say I didn't warn you in the future."

"..."

Su Mo opened his mouth but remained silent for a long time, unsure of what to say.

Is this the broad-mindedness of ancient women?

Or is it Yang Xiaoyun's own openness?

Su Mo felt his head buzzing. Even though he had been in this world for more than two years and his feelings for Yang Xiaoyun had grown deeper, he was still speechless at her words.

He could only turn to the large, fat man and ask: "What is this person's background?"

"This person..."

Yang Xiaoyun's expression was odd: "I don't know where this expert came from."

"Stop! Stop! Everyone, take a break!!!"

While they were talking, someone shouted, urging both sides to stop fighting.

But when things had escalated to this point, how could they just stop?

It took a few more exchanges before both sides finally ceased.

The experts from the three factions stood solemnly, while the Jiaolong Association members huddled together, facing off against the others.

Someone from the Jiaolong Association spoke up:

"Ladies and gentlemen! Guests should be treated with respect; why resort to violence? Let's talk things out calmly."

"Bullshit!"

The chief of Xuanlong Village stepped forward, shouting angrily:

"What are you, some nobody, to speak to us like this? When did Zhuge Changtian become a coward? We came here together, why hasn't he shown his face yet?"

"What are you talking about, Chief of Xuanlong Village?

"If we had known you were coming, our leader would have prepared a warm welcome. You arrived too suddenly, and he wasn't ready."

As he spoke, the man stepped out from the crowd.

The experts from the three factions looked closely and heard a woman from the Red Leaf Gang sneer: "So, it's the third leader of the Jiaolong Association.

"Are the first and second leaders of the mighty Jiaolong Association dead?

"Only you, the third, are left to hold the fort?"

"Heh heh..."

The third leader of the Jiaolong Association was unremarkable in appearance, short and thin like a monkey, with loose-fitting clothes and a sharp, monkey-like face that made people instinctively think of the phrase 'a monkey dressed in silk.'

He chuckled, pinched his greasy mustache, and said:

"Our first and second leaders are very much alive, but they are busy with matters and can't meet you right away.

"I am here to apologize on their behalf.

"But may I ask why you have come to our place in the middle of the night?"

"Look at what we've come to. If you had something to say, you should have just spoken up. Why resort to knives?"

"Hmm?"

The chieftain of Xuanlong Village's face darkened: "We came to seek an audience, but you avoided us. If it weren't for the threat of knives, you wouldn't have shown up. Now you're spouting nonsense—aren't you just making a fool of yourself? I don't have the patience to argue with you. Let Zhuge Changtian come out. I want to ask him what he's really up to.

"Blocking the river with boats, is that just stopping the waterway? It's cutting off our livelihood!

"If there's no explanation today, hm... Jiaolong Association? I'll turn you into the Dead Snake Gang!"

"Cough, cough, cough."

The leader of the Green Snake Alliance couldn't bear to listen anymore: "Chief, be careful with your words."

They called themselves the Green Snake Alliance, and now they were being labeled as the Dead Snake Gang. This didn't sound good for them at all.

Usually, names like Xuanlong (Mystic Dragon) and Heijiao (Black Dragon) already put them at a disadvantage. Now, calling them 'dead snakes' was simply too much.

The chieftain of Xuanlong Village was taken aback, waving his hand dismissively: "I wasn't talking about you."

At this moment, the third chief of the Jiaolong Association hurriedly spoke up:

"Unjust, unjust! Chief, what are you saying? How could we dare to block the livelihood of the river?

"If we had such intentions, even heaven and earth would punish us.

"The current actions are actually due to other reasons.

"But this isn't the place to explain. Since you've all come here, why don't you come inside the water fort for some tea?

"I'll give a brief explanation first, and once my two elder brothers return, they will personally apologize to everyone."

The chieftains and leaders of the three major groups exchanged glances subconsciously.

In the end, if they could avoid unnecessary bloodshed, they preferred not to draw their weapons.

The world of martial arts was never as simple as fighting and killing. Even in the green forest, there were rules.

Currently, the trade along this waterway was stable. If they acted rashly and attacked the Jiaolong Association, it was uncertain whether they could succeed. Even if they did, new problems would arise.

Who would take over the territory of the Jiaolong Association?

Who would control this vast water fort?

It was likely that when the Jiaolong Association fell, all three of them would suffer significant losses, possibly even losing one or two of their own...

Even if someone emerged victorious, how could they swallow such a large and rich prize whole?

Any damage would provide opportunities for others.

The major bandits downstream could not be ignored.

If the situation escalated, it would lead to chaos.

Worse still, they might fail to defeat the Jiaolong Association and instead be completely destroyed themselves, which would be a loss.

After all, the trade on this waterway was currently profitable.

The merchants traveling along the river understood the rules, paying their respects and making concessions where necessary.

The more ships that passed, the busier the river became, and the fuller their pockets grew.

This was why the Jiaolong Association's actions were seen as counterproductive.

By blocking the downstream trade routes, they were cutting off all sources of income. How could they tolerate this?

However, they hoped for a peaceful resolution.

Even if it came to a fight, they needed to coordinate with other major bandits first.

How to fight? Who would attack, who would defend, and what methods would be used?

What would happen to the waters controlled by the Jiaolong Association after the battle?

Would one person buy it at a high price?

Or would they all send people to do business in the Jiaolong Association's waters, dividing the profits among themselves?

Without clear rules, the situation would only become a mess.

This would benefit neither the major bandits along the river nor the merchant ships.

So, the third chief of the Jiaolong Association's offer provided a way out.

After exchanging glances, they all nodded in agreement.

Although they wanted a peaceful resolution, they also had to be wary of any hidden motives.

Thus, they made plans and precautions before entering the water fort.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun watched this scene, intending to follow and see the commotion. But before they could stand up, Yang Xiaoyun tugged at Su Mo's sleeve.

She pointed to a corner nearby.

Su Mo looked up and saw several men dressed in Jiaolong Association attire pushing a woman.

Her hands were bound behind her back, her expression cold and fierce, her eyes flashing with a cold light. However, her martial skills were restrained, leaving her unable to resist as she was pushed along.

Su Mo was taken aback: "It's her?"

The woman was none other than Chu Qiuyu of the Cold Moon Palace.

A few days ago, they had met briefly at the foot of Huayang Mountain, and later, while gathering information in Three Rivers Bay, they also caught sight of her and her fellow disciples.

But who would have thought that meeting her again would be under such circumstances?

In the next moment, Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun's expressions turned grave.

"This isn't right."

Yang Xiaoyun looked back at the three bandit chiefs who had followed the third leader into the water fort: "The Cold Moon Palace is not to be compared with the river bandits. Even if the Jiaolong Association has the audacity, how dare they treat a captured disciple of the Cold Moon Palace like this?"

The Cold Moon Palace shares some similarities with the Autumn Leaf Gang, in that it is also an all-female sect.

Any such sect in the martial world must first possess two essential qualities.

One is protectiveness, and the other is ruthlessness!

As a major sect in East City, the Cold Moon Palace, though dignified, is especially protective of its own.

If someone were to capture a disciple of the Cold Moon Palace and treat them so recklessly, it would be commonplace for the Cold Moon Palace to mobilize all its forces to annihilate them.

After all, the Jiaolong Association is merely a large group of river bandits; how can they be compared to the Cold Moon Palace?

Such behavior is nothing short of courting death.

After exchanging a glance, the two decided not to join the crowd in the main hall for the time being but instead to secretly follow those few water bandits from the Jiaolong Association.

These people kept up their foul mouths as they pushed Chu Qiuyu along, and in a moment, they entered a room.

"The talented disciple of the Cold Moon Palace, once considered a celestial being, I never thought you would fall into our hands today."

One of the water bandits pinched Chu Qiuyu's chin and chuckled, "Your face is truly beautiful, but your eyes are cold and somewhat chilling. I wonder if you can remain so cold after a while."

"Take your dirty hands off me!"

Chu Qiuyu said coldly, "If you stop now, I might let this matter slide in the future. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise?"

The man laughed loudly, glancing at the others, "At this point, Lady Chu is still putting on airs as a martial heroine. Isn't that laughable? When we return, under his leadership, we will even attack the Cold Moon Palace and capture your palace master. We'll see if she is really as cold and pure as ice!"

"You!!!"

Chu Qiuyu's words were cut off as she was pushed onto the bed.

Seeing these men laughing wildly, about to commit unspeakable acts, a hint of despair flashed in her eyes.

But at that moment, her gaze suddenly froze.

She looked past the men, "You... you're here?"

"Who?"

The water bandits of the Jiaolong Association felt puzzled upon hearing this.

One of them laughed, "Little girl, you're still resisting at this point? I like your spirit..."

His voice abruptly stopped, his eyes wide with shock as he looked down... and saw a spear tip piercing through his throat, blood splattering his chest.