Why do I have so many masters?

The sky was as dark as ink, lights glowing in myriad homes.

From a top-down view, the scenery was magnificent, the wind swirling, yet there were lights rising from below, suddenly spreading out, towering above the flat ground.

In the Jianghu, who is the wealthiest magnate, who is the most esteemed Martial Artist, and who can be considered a contemporary Grandmaster, there are thousands of explanations. However, there are also many things for which, no matter how many people you ask, you will get the same answer.

For example, Shaolin, for example, Wudang, for example, this place.

This is the tallest and most dangerous manor in the entire Jianghu.

How tall?

Three degrees taller than the sky.

In legends, those who ascend it never return alive.

In legends, the top expert of the entire Jianghu, the first beauty, the most violent and brutal villain, the gentlest and most elegant young lord, the fiercest Swordsman, the most domineering blade, and the most soul-stirring qin are all here.

But this mountain is not tall.

Not only is it not tall, but it is quite ordinary. From any direction across the world full of mountains and waters, riding a horse straight ahead for no more than a hundred miles, you can find a place with a mountain equally as imposing.

Yet this remains the most precipitous, most towering place in the entire Jianghu.

The place not to be taken lightly.

Even though it originally had a name as commonplace as could be.

On the mountain, there is a road leading upwards, broad and flat, unguarded.

At the very top is a manor.

In the manor, there is a person.

Just because of this person's name, even the most ordinary mountain in the world would become a famous mountain rivaling the Five Mountains. Towering, solitary, frightening and intimidating, making one involuntarily shudder.

'He' sits on the top chair, one hand resting on the armrest, his demeanor lazy and casual, fingers lightly tapping the armrest with a crisp sound, echoing like the midnight drum of King Yan's domain. In the entire Jianghu, its effect is no different from that midnight drum.

King Yan bids you die at midnight; who dares keep you till dawn?

Dong,

Dong,

Dong——

Amidst a clamor, a banner unfurls before his eyes, as if waves rolling, with an Azure Dragon breaking through the water, soaring to the sky. Below the banner, blades and spears, swords and halberds, gleam cold and sharp.

There stands the highest Inner Strength expert in the entire Jianghu, the first beauty in the entire land, the most violent and brutal villain, the gentlest and most elegant young lord, the fiercest Swordsman, the most domineering blade, and the most soul-stirring qin.

They ought to be arrogant and defiant by nature.

They naturally ought to be unruly, with a fate like the wind in such a grand manner, in such a vast Jianghu, how many can truly be worthy of a glance?

Then these most arrogant of the entire world and Jianghu, the fastest blade, the fiercest sword, the most charming and captivating beauty, bow to the lazy man above.

Wearing a blue robe, with an elegant brow and eyes, black hair like ink, laziness to the extreme.

In a trance, like a dream shattered, the realistic scene scattered with the wind, the Scholar's elegance remained untouched, but the mountain had become Shaolin's Song Mountain, the blue robe unchanged, with none of those faces, respectful or harboring murderous intent towards himself, remaining.

The blue-robed Scholar lowered his eyes languidly.

His fingers lightly tapped on the armrest, murmuring to himself:

"The Zhao guest's light attire, the Wu Hook's frosty brilliance."

"The silver saddle shines on a white horse, galloping swiftly like a meteor."

"Killing a person with every ten steps, traveling a thousand miles without leaving any trace."

"After the deed, he brushes his clothes and leaves, deeply concealing his body and name."

The voice was low and gentle, singing the poem 'The Knight Errant of Li Taibai', yet only reciting the first eight lines, never mentioning the latter lines, as if a madman enjoying himself, indifferent to others.

The Ancient Taoist was rarely seen not in his self-cleared bamboo forest, looking at his Taoist Scriptures, wearing a blue and white Taoist Robe, straw shoes on his feet, black hair bound with a bamboo hairpin, with two strands falling from his temples to hang before his chest.

His face was gentle, eyes pure, a tear mole at the corner of his eye, adding a gentle charm.

When these eyes look at anyone, it makes one feel as if they are the only one in the other person's eyes. And when this gaze shifts away, one feels as if something has been lost in their heart.

Just because of this tear mole, no matter how proficient he was in the Taoist Scriptures, how much he had the demeanor of a Banished Immortal, Hong Luoyu wanted to say, you are an indecent Taoist.

Yet now, this was just an indecent-looking Taoist standing with his hands behind his back on another peak, watching the blue-robed Scholar on the main peak, silent for a long time before suddenly sighing with a laugh, saying:

"Truly, time and again, it's just these few lines?"

Hong Luoyu was eagerly 'watching' outside.

Even though Wu Changqing was just sitting there treating people, he felt intensely envious. Being outside is much better than staying here, for the Shaolin Temple's world, though not small, no matter how big it is, will one day feel insufficient.

He was engrossed, but upon hearing, couldn't help but raise his head, laughing:

"That's just because your knowledge is limited, Taoist."

The Ancient Taoist raised his eyebrow, saying:

"Oh? From these words, does that mean you know?"

Hong Luoyu laughed loudly, retracting his gaze, saying:

"Naturally."

He only said these four words and then didn't continue, clearly wanting him to ask.

The Ancient Taoist smiled, saying:

"Then tell me, what exactly does it mean? Or are you ignorant too, just pretending to know, putting on airs?"

Hong Luoyu pouted, smiling with narrowed eyes: "No need to provoke me, it's useless. As the saying goes, a thief never leaves empty-handed... Ahem, what I mean is, everything in the world calls for reciprocity, give and take."

The Ancient Taoist understood, casting a glance over, saying:

"Alright then, what do you want?"

Hong Luoyu smiled shyly: "Not much, not much, just the next time you have the chance to go out, share a bit with me."

After the Ancient Taoist nodded in agreement, he displayed a hint of smugness and said:

"You're asking the right person about this matter. If it weren't for someone in my Divine Thieves Sect being involved, I wouldn't know... or rather, I wouldn't have known the man named Ying."

The Ancient Taoist frowned and asked:

"Someone in your sect? Who is it?"

Hong Luoyu's eyes paused slightly, and the atmosphere around seemed to become oppressive, as if all the air within several feet stopped flowing. Then it returned to normal, and he casually said:

"It's my Martial Uncle."

"The third on the Qinggong rankings, although at most he should be fifth or eighth, but still not bad. Originally, he was supposed to be the next Sect Leader of the Divine Thieves Sect, but he refused."

The Taoist was silent for a moment, looking towards the main peak of Shaolin Temple, and asked:

"Did the reason for his refusal have anything to do with him?"

Hong Luoyu said, "That's right. There are too many complicated matters here. If you want to know, I can tell you everything. However, he is a famous supreme martial artist in Jianghu, and also my Martial Uncle of the Divine Thieves Sect, treating me like a nephew, so I can't easily tell you. You need to know, you must..."

The Ancient Taoist smiled kindly, interrupting:

"I'm not interested in your Martial Uncle. Just get to the point."

Hong Luoyu laughed dryly twice, shifted his gaze, seemed to recall a bit, and then his expression turned more solemn, saying:

"Do you know what he was reciting earlier?"

The Taoist replied impatiently, "Li Taibai's 'The Swordsman's Journey'. Though I'm a man of the outside world, I do know such things. Get to the point."

Hong Luoyu's expression turned peculiar, shaking his head, he said:

"No, no, no, there's more after that. Earlier was 'The Swordsman's Journey'."

"What he recited just now was something else. Before that, let me ask, don't you find it strange that the man named Ying has been overly peaceful these past three to five years?"

The Ancient Taoist furrowed his brow and said:

"Isn't that a good thing? Must there be fights and killings to be meaningful?"

Hong Luoyu smacked his lips and shook his head, saying:

"These past few years, that guy has just been lazily sunbathing, reading books, playing chess, or simply taking naps like an old lady's cat. How could this be possible?"

The Taoist still seemed oblivious and asked curiously:

"Why is it impossible?"

"People can change. There are many who repent and turn over a new leaf."

Hong Luoyu rolled his eyes and said: "Blockhead, an earnest Taoist, such a face wasted by your parents, huh, do you think that one day, I, am I, in five years haven't thought even once about stealing something..."

"That's utterly impossible!"

The Ancient Taoist responded without hesitation.

Hong Luoyu was stunned, his mouth twitching, feeling the urge to flip the table in anger. It was truly infuriating. He glanced outside at Wu Changqing, took a deep breath, told himself not to get angry, not to get angry, it wasn't worth dying of anger for a Taoist like this. After calming down for a few breaths, he asked:

"Then what if the monk Yuan Ci didn't recite the scriptures for five years?!"

"Or if the old apothecary didn't refine pills for a full five years?"

The Ancient Taoist's expression shifted, finally falling into silence.

Hong Luoyu looked at him, chuckled, and said:

"Well, you realized it? You can meditate, monks recite scriptures, I can never give up my old business in this lifetime. If that's the case, why do you think the man named Ying could live so lazily and honestly for five years?"

"All in all, who do you think he is?!"

"An eccentric scholar? Or the man who almost became your brother-in-law?"

"Bullshit!"

"Don't forget, back then, when provoked, even your Wudang and the other seven great sects of Jianghu united to contend with him, they had made the worst preparations. Back then, all the power was leveraged against the underling of just one person."

"He was the top schemer in Jianghu back then. Asking him to not have a single thought for five years, nurturing the next generation like a housewife, I'm telling you, it's harder than me giving up my occupation..."

The Taoist's face was complex, glancing at the main peak, then at Hong Luoyu, and murmured:

"When did you realize it?"

Hong Luoyu, feeling smug, was momentarily stunned by this question and said:

"Realize? Realize what?"

"I haven't realized anything..."

The Taoist was taken aback, said:

"Then, then what you just said..."

Hong Luoyu lifted his chin slightly, showing a sense of pride, and said, "Naturally, I guessed it. How is it, is it reasonable and convincing?"

The Taoist was dumbfounded, then an inexplicable fire rose in his heart, gritting his teeth, "You don't know? You don't know! Then why are you babbling here? Like an old gossip?!"

Hong Luoyu was first stunned, then his eyes were filled with scorn, disdainfully smacking his lips, saying:

"Old gossip? Oh my, is that supposed to be an insult?! Go cool off on the side, why don't you, besides, what's wrong with making an educated guess? What's. Wrong?!"

"If that guy named Ying were up to something, do you think I would know?!"

"Really foolish!"

With that, he slightly raised his chin, justified and confident.

The Taoist was left speechless, realizing he couldn't refute this final statement, having to take a deep breath, gritting his teeth, and said:

"Now then, get to the point..."

"What do those few lines of poetry ultimately mean?"

PS: Presenting today's second update... 3,200 words~ a bit later than usual~