Yinshan Record

Chapter 288 Zhu Yan in Trouble: Disciples of the East Sea
Su Che nodded and followed the Chang family's servants onto the deck.

Countless thoughts flashed through my mind. These are turbulent times, and I wonder what kind of dragons and snakes are now lurking on the river.
"It's not that we're making things difficult for Uncle Chang, it's just that things aren't very peaceful on the river right now, so it's best to stop here for a while."

"Moreover, as you know, that goddess is fighting with several dragon lords, and all the aquatic creatures in the Canglang River are taking sides, creating a complete mess. There are also several highly cultivated water demons causing trouble ahead, which is all for your own good."

"Uncle Chang, what are your plans for this sea voyage? Actually, it would be better if you joined our Great River Alliance directly, so that we can look out for each other."

Su Che stepped onto the deck and saw several cultivators talking to the Chang family father and sons. They were wearing neat crane cloaks and their hair was combed meticulously.

Each person was mounted on a steed: a striped tiger, an iron-clad blue ox, or a jade-horned white deer. Each of them was surrounded by wisps of demonic energy. Although they were not powerful, they could no longer be considered ordinary beings.

Judging by appearance alone, this group does indeed resemble some terrestrial immortals, but these guys are only at the seventh or eighth rank of cultivation.

He looks like a Taoist immortal, but upon closer inspection, he's nothing more than a pretty face.

The Great River Alliance?
Su Che thought for a moment, but couldn't recall such a force being listed in the records of the Imperial Guards.

The members of the Chang family had already lined up on the deck, and the women on the ship were also veiled and standing beside the Chang father and son. One of the women was petite and looked wealthy with her exquisite jewelry; she must be the daughter of Chang Kai, the head of the Chang family.

"Esteemed immortals, the entire crew of this ship is here. Please examine it."

The head of the Chang family was indeed a man of great stature, but it was a pity that he was stopped on the river by such a group of lowly seventh or eighth-rank individuals. What was he really thinking?

Is it the helplessness of a tiger fallen into the plains or the cautiousness of trembling with fear?

Or is it anger?
Su Che looked at Chang Kai with curiosity.

It seems to have both.

One of the "immortal elders" from the Great River Alliance stepped forward. His eyes were both red, and his skin was bluish, suggesting that he was not a pure human.

There are many strange creatures in the East Sea, so this one must have some kind of unusual bloodline.

The Taoist focused his spiritual energy in his eyes and slowly scanned the entire ship.

"Junior Brother Chi, how is it?"

The leader was straddling a tiger, which looked like a well-fed cat curled up on the deck sunbathing, making the man's appearance somewhat awkward.

The junior brother, who clearly had a different bloodline, slowly shook his head.

"That person is not on the ship."

The leader's eyebrows lifted upon receiving the news.

"Oh, Uncle Chang, since we're not on our ship, we won't linger any longer. However, the alliance has issued a river closure order, prohibiting all ships, large and small, from heading east. Please wait a while until the alliance issues a new order before discussing going to sea."

A river-sealing order? The Great River Alliance certainly has considerable power.

Su Che couldn't understand how such a force could have emerged in Cizhou, right under his nose.

Just as I was thinking of him, a clear crane's cry suddenly rang out from the sky.

A huge crane spread its wings and slowly descended from the sky.

Sitting atop it was a Taoist priest with a four-colored longsword on his back. His face was as handsome as jade, and his eyes were like shooting stars. His Taoist demeanor attracted layers of auspicious energy and bursts of lucky light from all around.

So awesome.

Su Che glanced up and thought to himself, "Impressive!"

Regardless of the extraordinary nature of the crane beneath this person's seat, the very Xuanmen (mystical sect) laws that caused the surrounding area to change reveal that this person comes from a legitimate Xuanmen lineage and possesses extremely profound cultivation, far surpassing the Taoists on the ship before him.

The four long swords behind him reminded Su Che of the group of people he had met with the Yin-Yang Dharma King in Jiankang City.

These four swords exude a powerful murderous aura. Where did this alchemist come from?
"Greetings, Elder Qin."

Upon seeing this person descend, the leader of the Great River Alliance quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.

The Chang father and son naturally led a group of people to kneel down to greet them, their scalps pressed tightly against the deck, not daring to breathe.

As soon as the crane landed on the deck, the young and handsome Elder Qin stroked its neck, glanced around, and then spat out a mouthful of green blood, which fell onto the dark deck like a light mist.

"Elder Qin..."

The younger members of the Great River Alliance had never seen such a scene before. They had seen Elder Qin's imposing presence throughout the rivers and seas, his four swords unmatched. But now, he looked like he was on his last legs.

What exactly happened to cause Elder Qin to suffer such a severe injury?

"It doesn't matter!"

Elder Qin waved his sleeve, and even though his face was as white as paper and his jaw was clenched like a pestle, he still exuded an extraordinary aura.

"You all must immediately issue orders to all sides, instructing them to proceed to Tiansen Cliff at once..."

"found it!"

"They're actually at Tiansen Cliff. Are they heading east to the sea?"

The members of the Great River Alliance were abuzz with discussion.

"Stop making a fuss and get on with your business."

Elder Qin's cold eyes swept over the people on the boat.

"these are?"

Chang Kai, the head of the Chang family of Licheng, could easily understand what Elder Qin meant when he heard this.

Although it is unknown where Bird Sky Cliff is located or who lives there.

To prevent the news from leaking, the elder of the Great River Alliance was clearly planning to kill his group.

I thought the Great River Alliance was full of insignificant rogue cultivators, but I never expected them to be such ruthless characters.

This time, I was planning to move the family's treasures to the East China Sea, but I never expected to encounter this calamity of annihilation on the way.

"Reporting to the Master, the Han family is the Chang family of Licheng under the jurisdiction of Daliang. This time, my father and brothers are escorting me to the East Sea to pay my respects to my teacher."

A clear voice slowly replied.

Elder Qin raised an eyebrow and saw a petite girl gracefully stand up.

He does have the potential for cultivation. "Hmm? And who is your master?"

The question was uttered using the profound Taoist method of tapping the heart.

“Three years ago, Master Yue Wuyong of the East Sea Sword Palace was traveling through the Central Plains and passed through Licheng. He took me under his wing.”

East Sea Sword Palace.

Elder Qin glanced at the girl who had answered. She had no cultivation, yet she had withstood his method of questioning the heart. She must have been telling the truth.

"The Shadow Sword Mountain is useless, what a great reputation."

The situation is dangerous everywhere right now, so there's no need to get involved with the people from the East Sea Sword Palace any further.

"Water monsters are roaming ahead, please be careful."

Elder Qin abandoned his plan to kill and silence the witnesses, and his face became more amiable.

"Even if you pass this test, the journey to the East Sea will be fraught with difficulties. Since Luo Yingjian has taken you into his fold, disciples of your Sword Palace will naturally come to guide you. There is no need for such a large group to see you off. Although there are profound truths in the mortal world, there is more dust that obscures the mind."

"Thank you for your guidance, teacher. I am..."

"Now that you have joined the Sword Palace lineage, you have no connection with my Xuanmen. I cannot accept being called 'teacher'."

Elder Qin roused himself and gave orders to the members of the Great River Alliance.

"Disciples, do as I command!"

After saying this, the crane flapped its wings and soared into the sky, disappearing into the heavens.

The disciples of the Great River Alliance now looked at the Chang family of Licheng with a hint of ambiguity in their eyes.

However, they dared not delay, and one by one they rode their own mounts off into the water and floated away.

Tiansen Cliff?
After careful consideration, Su Che concluded that it must have been Madam Xie who, with her Zhu Yan, encountered the formidable Great River Alliance there.

The reason is actually quite simple.

The probability of anything nearby that could affect the Great River Alliance is extremely low.

They had just been ambushed when the Great River Alliance, an organization that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, laid a trap.

Where are there so many coincidences? It's clearly a series of interconnected events.

But who is this force targeting? Is it himself, the Prince of Wuling, Lady Xie, or that Zhu Yan?
Su Che felt as if there was a tattered net in front of him. Although there were many threads in the middle, they vaguely revealed something, but it was impossible to see clearly.

"Tai'er, when did you become a disciple of the East Sea Sword Palace? How come I didn't know?"

Others might be slow to realize it, but Chang Kai knew that his crew had escaped a desperate situation, and he couldn't help but look at the girl he had always cherished.

If the East Sea Sword Palace had known that Chang Tai was a disciple of the East Sea Sword Palace, why would they have hesitated and delayed the eastward relocation for so many years?

“My master had given me instructions before, so I kept it from my father. Please forgive me.”

The girl, however, seemed oblivious to the world's troubles, her eyes sweeping over her smug older brother and her adoptive brother, who was trying to hide his disappointment.

"My dear daughter, how could your father blame you?"

Chang Kai looked extremely happy and pleased.

It was naturally a joyous occasion for the Chang family of Licheng that their daughter could join the Donghai Sword Palace.

Now that chaos has broken out in the Central Plains, Chang Kai is planning to move the Chang family of Licheng to the East Sea. His daughter has become a disciple of the East Sea Sword Palace, which will give the Chang family of Licheng a foothold in the East Sea.

"However, there is one more thing that I would like to discuss with my two elder brothers and Mr. Ouyang, Father."

The little girl's voice was directed at Su Che, causing Su Che, who had been looking down, to suddenly raise his head.

Find me?

Su Che looked into the girl's clear eyes. Her appearance was average, but her eyes were very lively.

He's a promising talent.

"Ah, I am but an outsider, no..."

"Without Mr. Ouyang, this discussion cannot be completed."

The petite girl covered her mouth with her hand.

"Oh? No problem, hehe, no problem."

Su Che looked at the group of people who had suspicious expressions on their faces.

However, he had a similar thought to that of Elder Qin.

Originally intending to live a secluded life in the countryside, things took an unexpected turn.

Since that's the case, I might as well play the murder game myself and silence them.

The Chang family of Licheng was originally just a poor family, and Chang Kai, having been tempered in the martial arts world, naturally saw through the tricks of the trade.

His heart was heavy, but he looked at Su Che with a calm expression.

"Then may I take the liberty of inviting my nephew into the cabin for a chat?"

"Oh, Uncle, you're too kind."

Su Che remained polite as he headed towards the inner cabin with the core members of the Chang family.

The conversation took place in the same luxurious cabin that Chang Kai had used when he met Su Che.

However, the situation this time is somewhat cramped.

Last time, Chang Kai, as the head of the Chang family, naturally sat in the main seat. However, now that his daughter has become a disciple of the East Sea Sword Palace, and that young master Ouyang has been pointed out by his daughter as somewhat mysterious, they are naturally not comparable.

Even Chang Kai, the seasoned patriarch of the Chang family, was somewhat at a loss.

(End of this chapter)