Duan Zhengchun transmigrates to Yin Zhiping

"Rong'er?! You're finally back!"

"What happened? You're hurt?!"

Guo Jing looked at Huang Rong, who was being carried off the horse by Duan Zhengchun, and asked her with concern.

“Mongol spies have infiltrated the city. I led men to chase them, but the gang members who went with me have all been killed. We need to send someone to bring their bodies back as soon as possible.”

"We'll talk about the rest later. Thanks to Brother Yin, I was able to return safely this time."

Huang Rong forced a smile and pointed to Duan Zhengchun beside her.

"Brother Yin, thank you so much! You saved Rong'er's life again! How can I ever repay you!"

Guo Jing gratefully took Duan Zhengchun's hand and said excitedly.

"It was nothing. Now that the person has been delivered, I'll head back now."

After Duan Zhengchun finished speaking, he slowly freed himself from Guo Jing's hands, turned around, mounted his horse, and left.

"Brother Yin, it's getting late, why don't you stay here for the night?"

Guo Jing looked at Duan Zhengchun, who had already mounted his horse, and greeted him.

"No need, someone is waiting for me to go back."

"By the way, not all of those Mongol spies were Mongol Tartars. One of them was Han Chinese, and he should be a member of the martial arts world!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Duan Zhengchun left the Beggars' Sect headquarters without looking back.

Standing there, Huang Rong watched Duan Zhengchun gradually disappear into the distance. Recalling the words Duan Zhengchun left behind before he departed, she felt a strange sense of loss for some reason.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Huang Rong was startled and immediately shook her head vigorously, instantly dispelling the wild thoughts in her mind.

Neither of them said much about what exactly happened outside Xiangyang City; it seemed to have become a secret between the two of them.

After receiving Duan Zhengchun's reminder, Guo Jing quickly began to notify various heroes in the martial arts world to jointly investigate which sects had become the henchmen of the Mongol Tartars.

...

Afternoon the next day.

Duan Zhengchun, accompanied by Wanyan Ping, once again visited the Beggars' Sect headquarters at their invitation.

"Brother Yin, come quick, see who's here!"

Guo Jing stood at the entrance of the council hall to wait. When he saw Duan Zhengchun arrive late, he hurriedly waved and called out, his face full of smiles.

Just as Duan Zhengchun led Wanyan Ping up the stone steps at the entrance, four familiar figures appeared beside Guo Jing.

Hao Datong and Sun Bu'er also arrived, accompanied by Lin Zhiyuan and Zhao Zhijing.

Since he was expelled from his sect, he had never returned to Zhongnan Mountain. Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, and now they have met again in this city.

"Senior Brother Yin?!"

The moment Lin Zhiyuan saw Duan Zhengchun, his face lit up with joy. He called out loudly and waved vigorously, seemingly forgetting that Duan Zhengchun was no longer a member of the Quanzhen Sect.

"Cough cough..."

Zhao Zhijing, who was standing to the side, coughed twice at an inopportune moment, a disdainful sneer flashing across his lips.

Hearing the noise, Lin Zhiyuan glanced at Hao Datong and Sun Bu'er out of the corner of his eye before quickly shutting his mouth, suppressing the joy of their reunion.

"Master Hao, Master Sun, it's been a long time."

Duan Zhengchun walked closer, clasped his hands in a salute to Hao and Sun, and slowly said a few words.

Compared to Wang Chuyi, these two were the two closest to him among the Five Masters of Quanzhen.

"Master Yin".

Hao Datong and Sun Bu'er were both taken aback for a moment, and then returned the greeting.

They seemed somewhat disliked this title, after all, "Yin Zhiping" was someone they had watched grow up, and in the past, he was the disciple on whom the Quanzhen Sect placed the greatest hopes.

"Please come in, everyone."

Guo Jing smiled and stepped aside, giving a warm greeting, seemingly sensing the slightly awkward atmosphere among them.

Hao and Sun nodded, their faces friendly, and turned to walk inside.

"I didn't expect that after three years, Junior Brother Yin is still the same. Oh, no, you are no longer a disciple of my Quanzhen Sect."

"It's been so long, I suddenly don't know what to call you..."

Zhao Zhijing looked at Duan Zhengchun with a forced smile, his words seemingly revealing a hint of smugness.

But before he could finish speaking, Duan Zhengchun had already walked straight past him without even glancing at him.

Apart from a few members of the Quanzhen Sect, there was no one else in the hall. It seemed that this was a setup deliberately set up by Guo Jing in the hope of resolving the rift between Duan Zhengchun and the Quanzhen Sect.

Guo Jing had heard about Duan Zhengchun's expulsion from his sect back then, and knew that Duan Zhengchun's departure was not dignified.

However, Duan Zhengchun never took these things to heart. He silently led Wanyan Ping into the hall and found a place to sit down.

Zhao Zhijing, who had been frozen at the door, gritted his teeth and returned to the hall, sitting down next to Lin Zhiyuan.

As the third-generation eldest disciple, he can now only sit below Lin Zhiyuan, the chief disciple, and all of this is because of Duan Zhengchun.

Duan Zhengchun didn't say much after he sat down, because he no longer needed to be as respectful to Hao and Sun as before, and to take care of their feelings.

Although he was closer to the other five Quanzhen disciples besides Qiu Chuji than to these two, that was all.

Guo Jing, seated in the main seat, talked at length, seemingly determined to create a harmonious atmosphere among them. After all, they were all there to participate in the martial arts tournament, and they would inevitably have to discuss important matters together in the future.

However, as time went on, the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly awkward, eventually turning into Guo Jing talking to himself all by himself.

However, apart from Zhao Zhijing, the other three were happy to see Duan Zhengchun, especially Lin Zhiyuan, but they couldn't show it because Hao and Sun were present.

After a long while, the long-awaited reunion finally came to an end, and Hao Datong called Duan Zhengchun to his residence alone.

"I am very pleased that you can participate in the martial arts tournament. I am sure my senior brother, the headmaster, will be very happy to know this."

"If you can seize the position of leader of the martial arts alliance and lead heroes from all walks of life to fight against the Mongol army, it will surely become a lie, and it will not be in vain that the Quanzhen Sect has cultivated you for so many years."

Hao Datong looked at Duan Zhengchun, who was sitting silently opposite him, and said something earnestly.

"I have no intention of becoming the leader of the martial arts world. I have no interest in it and I don't care about it."

However, Duan Zhengchun did indeed reveal his thoughts, giving Hao Datong no room to react.

Upon hearing this, Hao Datong paused for a moment, then slowly said, "You're still the same as before, doing things entirely according to your own whims. I thought you'd changed over the past three years."

Duan Zhengchun curled his lip and said, "What's wrong with doing what you like? If Master Hao wants to preach, I'm afraid it's no longer appropriate today."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I will not keep you company any longer."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Duan Zhengchun stood up and prepared to leave.

Since he is no longer a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect, there is no need to be polite. Moreover, he is more unorthodox than ever before. If he does not sever all ties with the Quanzhen Sect, he will inevitably implicate his sect.

"and many more!"

Seeing that Duan Zhengchun was about to leave, Hao Datong hurriedly spoke up to stop him.

"Does Master Hao have anything else to say?"

Duan Zhengchun stopped and asked with his back to him.

"For the past three years, there has been a legend in the martial arts world about a great hero who wields the Lingxiao Sword and travels around upholding justice, punishing evil and eliminating wickedness, and who comes and goes without a trace."

"Was that you?"

Hao Datong stared intently at the sword box on Duan Zhengchun's back and asked a serious question.

In fact, his gaze had lingered on the sword case several times while he was in the council hall.

The Lingxiao Sword was the personal sword of Master Chongyang of the Quanzhen Sect, but the Quanzhen Sect did not know its whereabouts. Ever since hearing that the Lingxiao Sword had appeared in the world, Qiu Chuji had been ordering his disciples to search for the Lingxiao Sword and the whereabouts of the person who wielded it, but unfortunately, they had never succeeded.

"No."

Duan Zhengchun denied Hao Datong's speculation without hesitation.

"Alright, since it's not you, I won't say anything more. However, you've been out of contact for the past three years, and my senior brother has been very worried about you. If you have time, please come back to the mountain."

"My senior brother, the sect leader, will be very happy to see you."

Hao Datong slowly stood up, looked at Duan Zhengchun who had his back to him, and said meaningfully.

Although Duan Zhengchun had just denied it, for some reason, he felt even more strongly that the person holding the sword was Duan Zhengchun. However, he couldn't force anything, so he hoped that Duan Zhengchun would return to Zhongnan Mountain and let his senior brother, the headmaster, make the decision.

After all, the Lingxiao Sword is a sacred object of the Quanzhen Sect.

Duan Zhengchun neither agreed nor refused, and without saying anything more, walked straight out.

Hao Datong watched Duan Zhengchun's retreating figure, a hint of seriousness gradually creeping into his expression...