"You set the rules?"

Chen Yuan asked gently.

"Boy, how dare you..."

A member of the Yu Hai Gang immediately stepped forward, pointing at Chen Yuan and about to curse.

But the next moment.

"Slap!"

A crisp sound was heard, and the gang member was directly slapped to the ground by the young gang leader. Then, he knelt on one knee, smiling obsequiously, and asked:

"May I ask, esteemed guest, who you are..."

From the first glance the young gang leader exchanged with Chen Yuan, he felt a thump in his heart, because he sensed a powerful aura. Wherever this man sat, he was the center of the entire world.

His eyes seemed to contain an endless deep sea. Although there was no trace of a martial artist's aura, the pressure he exerted was more terrifying than a high mountain.

Definitely not an ordinary person!

Ordinary people would never be so calm when facing a gang leader. Therefore, he concluded that this person must be someone in a high position.

Everywhere, there are gang forces, but to some at the top, these people are not even ants. It is their honor to be noticed.

So, he knelt, without hesitation.

Chen Yuan gazed at him, tapping the table slowly with his fingertip, a faint smile on his face, and said softly:

"I am just an ordinary person."

"Esteemed guest, esteemed guest, it's my fault today, I shouldn't have offended you. Please give me a chance and spare the lives of my brothers..."

Hearing Chen Yuan say this, the young gang leader was even more terrified. He knelt down on both knees, his tone sincere.

"Alright, step back for now."

Chen Yuan nodded and waved his hand.

"Thank you, esteemed guest, thank you, esteemed guest. May I ask for your honorable name? I will definitely visit you another day to formally apologize and beg you to give me a chance to make amends."

When a crisis passes, an opportunity arises.

The young gang leader hoped to establish a connection. If it were useful, he would have truly gained a foothold in the northern part of Shuzhou City.

Making as many friends as possible is his principle of action.

Otherwise, he would not have been able to establish the Yu Hai Gang from a fishmonger who used to be bullied.

"Someone will come to find you."

Chen Yuan patted his shoulder.

"Yes, yes, yes..."

The young gang leader looked delighted and quickly led his gang away.

Zhou Zhong was stunned in place, seemingly shocked by the Yu Hai Gang leader's kneeling. A swaggering gang leader could only kneel at Chen Yuan's feet and beg for mercy.

"Uncle Zhou?"

"Ah..."

"It's nothing."

"Ah, ah... I knew you would achieve great things back in Ping An County." Zhou Zhong rubbed his palms together, showing the shyness and flattery of an honest man.

"If you need anything in the future, you can find me at the yamen."

"Alright, alright..."

"Uncle Zhou, continue with your work, I'll be leaving now."

Chen Yuan stood up, and Su Ziyue followed closely behind.

"You... you... take care..."

Zhou Zhong's wrinkled face was full of smiles.

"Alright..."

Watching Chen Yuan and Su Ziyue's receding figures, Zhou Zhong was stunned for a moment. He turned around, and the smile on his face gradually turned calm as he sat down again and began chopping the filling...

......

"This Uncle Zhou seems to have some issues. When he was talking about the past, he spoke a little too smoothly, as if he was reciting a text, even remembering small things from years ago..."

On the streets of Shuzhou City, Su Ziyue snuggled close to Chen Yuan and voiced her thoughts.

She had realized some issues after Zhou Zhong finished speaking and restrained her smile, but because he was present, she didn't say much.

"I know, I felt that something was wrong the first time I saw him."

Chen Yuan's eyes were calm, and his expression was as usual.

When he turned his head and saw Zhou Zhong for the first time, he felt a thump in his heart, sensing something unexpected and wrong, but he didn't show it.

What a coincidence, too much of a coincidence!

Chen Yuan had previously inquired about their father and daughter's whereabouts, but there was no news. Chen Yuan also hoped that they could live a peaceful life and that there was no need to disturb them.

But now, just today.

Just when he was strolling along this section of the road, just when he had the thought to take a walk to relax, he happened to discover Zhou Zhong's presence.

He would never believe that there were no problems with this.

There are never any coincidences in this world.

He doesn't believe in fate either.

Most coincidences are planned in advance.

"How about we just arrest him and interrogate him..." Su Ziyue's eyes narrowed, and she said in a deep voice.

"He's coming for me, he should have some purpose. Right now, the most important thing is to kill Xiang Qianqiu, not to deal with another unknown enemy.

Being able to start with Zhou Zhong and his daughter proves that they know me well. If they dare to meet me by chance in Shuzhou City, they must not be afraid of being caught. Let's not startle the snake now.

After we've dealt with Xiang Qianqiu and occupied half of the Central Plains, it won't be too late to deal with him..."

Chen Yuan spoke in a steady tone.

"Alright."

As the two were talking, Chen Yuan waved in a direction. Soon, a young man in a brocade robe came forward and bowed:

"Your Highness."

"Go and develop the Yu Hai Gang leader from earlier into a secret line, and have them secretly protect Zhou Zhong."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

The man in brocade robes bowed and retreated.

"Protect?"

Su Ziyue raised an eyebrow, seeming a little surprised.

"Just put on a show, stabilize him first, and we'll talk about it after we've dealt with Xiang Qianqiu..."

......

Yan Prince's Mansion, backyard.

On a stone table, there was a tea set. Chen Yuan sat on a cyan jade stool, pouring tea for himself. The tea fragrance was rich, penetrating the heart and lungs, and a faint spiritual energy filled his nose.

Su Ziyue, dragging a long skirt, slowly walked into the backyard. The maids around her were stopped at the door. She walked alone to Chen Yuan's side and slowly sat down.

Picking up the teacup, she took a light sip and nodded slightly:

"This tea is good..."

"Hehe, there is a thousand-year-old tea tree in Biyou Palace. It is one of the best teas in the world, only a step away from immortal tea. Drinking it for a long time is beneficial to cultivation."

"That's not bad."

"Su Qing sent you a message?"

Chen Yuan asked.

Su Ziyue nodded and said:

"Yes, Sister Su Qing said that Feng Jiuge was looking for her, saying that the reason for imprisoning her was to lure you to the Goddess Palace to discuss conditions.

Hehe, it seems that the Goddess Palace can't sit still now."

It wasn't that Su Ziyue looked down on the Goddess Palace. After all, it was one of the ten immortal sects of the world. It was just that she didn't like the way Feng Jiuge was doing things.

If you want to talk, then talk properly.

Doing this kind of thing will only make people hate you.

"Hehe..."

Chen Yuan smiled.

"According to Feng Jiuge's meaning, if you don't go, I'm afraid she won't give up. If it really doesn't work, let's make a move first and rescue Sister Su Qing first, as for the rest..."

"She's doing it on purpose."

Chen Yuan interrupted Su Ziyue before she could finish speaking.

"What?"

"Feng Jiuge is deliberately showing this intention."

"You mean..."

Su Ziyue's face was full of suspicion.

"Do you know what news my second uncle, Chen Huaiyi, passed to me today?" Chen Yuan stroked the teacup, raised his head, and gazed at her.

"What news?"

"The Hall Master of the Seven Killings Hall and most of the Seven Killings Hall's forces have been transferred to Yunzhou. At this time, Feng Jiuge is luring me to the Goddess Palace, and the two are connected in series..."

"You mean, the Goddess Palace has already colluded with Xiang Qianqiu? Luring you to the Goddess Palace is to ambush you." Su Ziyue frowned, her expression gloomy.

"That's right, this is very obvious. It seems that the connection between the Goddess Palace and the former Chu royal family has never been broken and they have always been colluding in secret.

This time, it's to use Li Suqing to lure me out."

"No wonder Sister Suqing said before that Feng Jiuge clearly knew that she was from the Daoshen Palace, but she never expressed it openly. It was for today!"

"That's right."

"Then you can't go. Xiang Qianqiu is using an absolutely powerful force this time to kill you. If something goes wrong..." Su Ziyue understood all this and felt that it was too risky.

One wrong move, and you could lose everything.

"How can I not go to the setup that Xiang Qianqiu has prepared for me? I was still thinking about how to lure him out, but I didn't expect him to take the initiative first."

Chen Yuan's lips curved into a smile.

"You know it's a trap, and you're still going?"

"Why shouldn't I go?"

"But..."

"If I'm not mistaken, he's known about my second uncle's identity for a long time. This time, he revealed this information to me to give me more confidence.

He thinks he has everything under control, but in reality, he's within his plan."

Chen Yuan murmured to himself.

"This..."

"He has the support of the Seven Killings Hall and the Heavenly Demon Hall, and I also have the support of the three immortal sects. Besides, there's also Senior Moro, this immortal combat power. Why is he so confident that he can kill me?

Unless... the Seven Killings Hall and the Heavenly Demon Hall, or the Xiang family, also have immortals!"

Chen Yuan's eyes narrowed, and his expression became solemn.

"This matter is indeed a bit hard to say."

Su Ziyue shook her head. The strength of the ten immortal sects is impossible to display openly. No immortals have appeared in the Seven Killings Hall and the Heavenly Demon Hall for many years.

But who can be sure that they really don't have any?

The Sima clan has not taken down Xuezhou for hundreds of years, and the situation has remained stagnant. Su Ziyue does not believe that these two major demonic forces do not have powerful presences guarding them.

"Since that's the case, then I should go even more."

Chen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

"Are you confident?"

"If it's just the Xiang family and the Seven Killings Hall and the Heavenly Demon Hall, I am naturally confident. However, my only concern is that, perhaps, to ensure that nothing goes wrong, Xiang Qianqiu has other preparations..."

"What are your guesses?"

"Do you remember what I said before?"

"Yes."

"For the sake of the great cause, for the sake of restoring the country, Xiang Qianqiu may let go of all hatred. If..."

......

......

Yunzhou, somewhere on a mountain peak.

Xiang Qianqiu, dressed in black, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance with deep eyes, his light restrained. His whole body exuded an extraordinary Taoist charm.

It seemed to be in harmony with the world, but it seemed even more out of place with the world.

The void flickered, and the sunlight above the nine heavens was exceptionally bright, shining between the heavens and the earth. Golden light shone, quickly condensing into a figure.

That figure was wearing a simple monk's robe, with a compassionate expression, walking barefoot, step by step, to Xiang Qianqiu's front. He placed one hand on his chest, clasped his hands together, and said:

"This poor monk, Manjushri, greets King Xiang."

"King Xiang? Hehe... My Xiang family's ancient books record that when the founding emperor was vying for the world a thousand years ago, he seemed to be called King Xiang."

"Who can say that today's King Xiang cannot reach the level of the former King Xiang?" Manjushri Bodhisattva smiled faintly and continued:

"That moment, is just like this moment."

"A thousand years ago, Buddhism does not seem to have supported the founding emperor." Xiang Qianqiu turned around and gazed at Manjushri.

Manjushri was neither rushed nor slow and said:

"This poor monk is talking about the time of the Sima founding emperor. At that time... the Buddha said so."

"Mount Ling, Mount Ling, your ambitions are really great. Last time, you made the Sima family agree to let you preach in the Central Plains, causing half of the Central Plains to be filled with Buddhist temples.

This time, you want this king to hand over a small half of the Central Plains to you... Next time, do you want to monopolize the entire Central Plains, the entire world?" Xiang Qianqiu asked.

"All living beings are suffering, all living beings are guilty. When the light of Buddha shines on the world, and compassion spreads on the earth, and a true supreme Buddha kingdom is established, these sentient beings can naturally attain bliss, immortality, never being poor or hungry, never being sad or crying... Wouldn't that be the merit of our Buddhist sect?"

Manjushri asked in return.

"The Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is just a cover. Where is there a true Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss? Fellow Daoist Manjushri is here to persuade me. Could it be that you think you can make this king believe in Buddhism?"

"Believe and it exists, don't believe and it doesn't. Lord Xiang doesn't believe it, but all living beings will believe it."

"Hahaha... Good, good..."

Xiang Qianqiu shook his head, a smile on the corner of his mouth.

"Hehe..."

"With the understanding of Manjushri Bodhisattva, it seems that you are not far from the realm of Buddha?"

"This poor monk is still a little short. What is truly not far away is Lord Xiang. However, this poor monk has some doubts."

"What doubts?"

"With Lord Xiang's cultivation and understanding, it should be easy to condense the flower on the top of your head at this moment. Why is Lord Xiang unwilling to break through? If you break through...

Suppressing those heretics Chen Yuan and Moro would seem much simpler."

Manjushri Bodhisattva had a puzzled expression.

He had not fought with Xiang Qianqiu, but even through perception, he could feel that Xiang Qianqiu's current situation had reached a critical point and he could break through the last layer of membrane at any time.

"The path of Buddhist cultivation is different from this king's. This king naturally has his own thoughts. This time, killing Moro and Chen Yuan will be the day this king attains enlightenment."

"A heart demon?"

"Hehe, I guess."

"This poor monk understands."

Manjushri nodded.

"Will the Buddha be here?"

This was what Xiang Qianqiu was most concerned about.

Manjushri smiled faintly:

"The Buddha... is everywhere."

"Acting mysterious..."

————

The previous chapter was not really water, it was laying the groundwork for the future plot. The Xiang Qianqiu chapter is coming to an end, so naturally the plot of the next chapter must be opened.

Fellow Taoists understand.

In addition, it's already the end of the month. If any brothers still have monthly tickets in hand, please help me vote. Thank you for your support.

I have been conceiving a new book recently, and the title has just been determined.

Next book strive to write better on the basis of this one, just like the Mountain Bandit based on the Altar, this book has absorbed a lot of lessons, writing and writing, this book also found a lot of problems.

Absorb slowly, improve, and strive to satisfy everyone.

Thank you, Happy New Year.