Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Looking back on the journey into the desert, it was full of twists and turns, but now it was all worth it.

The demon lord is dead, and the Yaksha Blood Banquet Divine Skill is now kept by Li Fu as his personal bodyguard.

Everything has settled down.

However, there are still some matters that need to be dealt with.

Under Li Fu's supervision, the people took what they needed from the gold and silver treasures, with the injured receiving more and those who contributed their labor also getting a share.

Li took his share, no more and no less, and distributed the rest to the servants and old women who had been abducted and tortured for many years, helping them to return to their hometowns and settle down.

Everyone agreed.

After a day of rest, once the injuries of Daoist Chongling and the other seriously injured had stabilized, the group embarked on their journey home.

They came with different intentions, but returned with a deeper sense of camaraderie, as if they had shared life and death.

It took several more days to get out of the desert.

As the familiar Huangsha Inn came into view, everyone felt a sense of déjà vu, as if they had lived through another world.

The sandstorm was still there, but much less intense.

At the entrance of the inn, the old innkeeper was dozing off with his eyes half-closed when the waiter suddenly pointed into the distance and stammered.

"Shopkeeper...shopkeeper!"

Look! Those people...they...they're back!

The old shopkeeper jolted awake, opened his old eyes, and looked in the direction the shop assistant was pointing.

On a patch of sand in front of the inn, the figures of Li Fu, the Old Man of Fiery Flames, Gong Xiaoshang and her siblings, Monk Zhitong, and others gradually became clear, returning from the desert.

He was so startled that his beard stood on end and his old eyes widened in shock.

It took him quite a while to come to his senses.

"I'm...I've seen a ghost!"

The old man had run his shop in this godforsaken place for over a decade, and none of the people who went into that desolate sands had ever returned alive.

…This…this…could it be that you were lucky enough not to encounter the ghosts in the desert?”

As the group approached, they heard what the old shopkeeper had said.

Gong Xiaoshang smiled broadly, like a spring breeze sweeping across the desert, and said.

"Shopkeeper, you don't need to be afraid anymore. There won't be any more Golden Pavilion or Sand Market harming people, and no more people will die needlessly because of it!"

"The evil spirit that plagued the desert has been rid of."

The old man with the raging fire laughed heartily, while the wise monk chanted Buddhist mantras...

"Amitabha."

"Wha...what do you mean?"

The old shopkeeper was bewildered and found it hard to believe.

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze turned to Li Fu in unison.

He was impeccably dressed, with an upright posture and a faint, composed smile on his lips.

"Boss, as usual, a plate of cooked beef and a pot of good tea."

The sandstorm outside the door gradually subsided.

……

The lobby of Huangsha Inn was no longer deserted.

Several square tables were joined together to form a long banquet, the air filled with the aroma of wine and meat, and laughter and chatter.

The Old Man of Fiery Blaze slammed his fist on the table and shouted for more wine. The crowd sipped their drinks, their faces glowing. The disciple of the Soul-Slaying Claw, with tears in his eyes, whispered that his master's spirit in heaven could finally rest in peace...

After a life-or-death ordeal, everyone displayed the carefree and unrestrained spirit of江湖儿女 (jianghu children, meaning people from all walks of life).

In front of Li Fu was only a plate of neatly sliced ​​cooked beef and a pot of fragrant hot tea.

No one was willing to agree to his request.

"Young Li, after eating dry rations and drinking cold water in the desert, your stomach must be parched. Now that you've escaped to the open, how can you just drink tea?"

The old man with the raging fire picked up a bowl of strong liquor with his large palm-leaf fan and shoved it into Li Fu's hand without saying a word. "Come, come, drink this bowl to the brim!"

Consider this a toast from an old man to you, a toast that saved your life!

The woodcutter also silently raised his cup, his eyes filled with unspoken gratitude.

Unable to refuse their hospitality, Li raised his bowl to clink with everyone's and drank it all in one gulp.

The spicy liquor warmed me as it went down my throat, and the fatigue from the days of wind and sand seemed to dissipate somewhat.

The atmosphere at the gathering was lively, with everyone recounting the perilous journey. One of the disciples of the Soul Claw Sect asked gratefully.

"We don't know where Master Li lives. We don't know where to go to repay this kindness, or where to find him?"

Li Fu put down his wine cup and said.

"Li Fu lives in Qingping County, Yanzhou, and is a constable in the county government. Don't laugh, but he was just promoted to constable not long ago."

"The head constable?!"

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

The old man with the raging fire stared wide-eyed, and even Gong Xiaoshang and Zhu Tongzhou looked surprised.

No one could believe it.

Is it true or not? Li Fu, who possesses such astonishing martial arts skills at such a young age and is like a divine dragon from the heavens, is actually just a constable in a small county in Yanzhou.

Could it be that all the thieves and bandits on the streets of Qingping County are as formidable as Tuoba Que, requiring such a constable to manage and maintain order?

"Who cares if he's a constable or a county magistrate."

You saved my life, you are my brother, the Old Man of Fiery Blaze!

The old man with the fiery spirit was the first to slam his fist on the table, his heroic spirit soaring to the heavens.

"Amitabha! With a heart full of chivalry, Benefactor Li is upright and honest, truly a model of chivalry," said Monk Zhitong, pressing his palms together in praise.

Everyone echoed his sentiments, expressing only admiration for Li Fu.

With such extraordinary martial arts skills, he would be an honored guest wherever he went.

After a few drinks and some warm words, we must eventually part ways.

At the entrance of the inn, the north wind whipped up dust and sand.

The group packed their belongings and wished each other well.

The old man with the blazing fire clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming like a bell, "Young Li, leave your uncle's matter to me. Although I, the old man with the blazing fire, don't have many friends..."

But under my fiery palms, many wicked bandits had no choice but to work for me.

The woodcutter cupped his hands in greeting, and though he did not speak, his eyes revealed his true feelings.

Monk Zhitong said, "When I return to the temple, I will inquire among the worshippers and keep an eye out for news about your family."

The disciples of the Soul Claw Sect said in unison, "Benefactor, we will do our utmost to help find him."

Li Fu returned the greetings one by one: "Thank you all for your kindness!"

In the end, only Zhu Tongzhou and his sister Gong Xiaoshang remained.

Zhu Tongzhou solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Brother Li, rest assured. After returning to Jiangnan, I will immediately inform my father and mobilize the men under my command in the dock to help you find the person. I believe it will not be difficult to find the whereabouts of your elder."

He paused, his eyes filled with a sincere invitation.

"Speaking of which, in a few months, it will be the time for the five-yearly general competition and rotation of the chief dock master of the Seven Star Linked Docks in Jiangnan."

This battle is crucial to the landscape of the Jiangnan bandit community and can be considered a grand event, attracting widespread attention.

Although it won't be open to the public, close friends and confidants from each of the docks will be invited to witness the ceremony to ensure its fairness. Brother Li, would you be so kind as to attend?

Li Fu smiled and said, "I am naturally willing to exchange ideas with fellow martial arts practitioners and broaden my horizons. I will definitely go and bother you then to open my eyes."

"Excellent!" Zhu Tongzhou exclaimed with delight. "I will immediately send someone to deliver a formal invitation. Thank you for your honor, Brother Li!"

Gong Xiaoshang stepped forward, her bright eyes sparkling like water.

"Brother Fu, after I go back, I will ask Mother to help me find your elder."

My mother, Madam Cuiping… still has some influence in the martial arts world, so I'm sure she can be of some help.”

During the banquet, Li Fu had already heard more about Lady Cuiping.

His mother, Madam Cuiping, was a remarkable woman in the martial arts world with a mysterious background. Her family history and lineage remain a mystery to this day, known to few, but she must have had a remarkable origin.

Because he had just appeared in the martial arts world when he was young, it is unknown why he could gain the favor of various sects.

Even Zhu Kang, the younger brother of the renowned land dragon Zhu Tinggao and a swordsman known as Tie Xiao, was a hero of the martial arts world, yet he willingly married into a family.

This is also why the two cousins ​​have different surnames.

Li Fu knew the weight of this small gesture of respect and thanked her, saying, "Little Sister Chang is too modest. Your mother, Madam Cuiping, is a household name."

Li Fu thanked him profusely.