209: Chapter 89 Nowhere to Start

"Old Imp, wait a moment."

Hearing Hong Qi's shout, Old Imp paused in his tracks and looked back.

Seeing Hong Qi approaching, he was stunned for a moment, then asked with a smile, "Your Excellency must be the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar, Hong Qigong, right?"

Hong Qi nodded. "Indeed."

Old Imp immediately cupped his hands. "I have long looked forward to meeting you. My Senior Brother once said that among the Five Masters, the Northern Beggar Hong Qi possesses the most chivalrous spirit and is a true hero through and through. Thank you for helping to stop that Old Poison just now. If there's a chance in the future, I'll treat you to some wine."

Hearing this, Hong Qi's face instantly broke into a wide grin, and he hurriedly waved his hand. "No need to be so polite. I just find that Old Poison unpleasant to the eye, that's all."

"What a coincidence! I find Old Poison unpleasant to the eye as well. It seems we share similar tastes," Old Imp agreed, then asked, "I wonder why you called for me?"

Hong Qi said, "It's nothing much. I just wanted to suggest you stay on this island for one more day and leave with us tomorrow."

Then, before Old Imp could respond, he added, "If you leave today, you'll inevitably run into Old Poison. He has always coveted the Nine Yin Manual. If you travel alone, he will surely take the opportunity to make things difficult for you and try to seize the manual from you."

"Although your Martial Arts are now no inferior to his, he has many people on his side, and he also releases snakes and uses poison."

"So, you're still in quite a bit of danger."

"Why not stay one more day and leave with us tomorrow? By then, not only will I be there, but also Young Hero Meng and the others. Even if we encounter Old Poison, there's no need to fear."

"Besides, it's more lively with more people."

"What do you think?"

Old Imp thought about it and readily agreed. "You have a point. Then I'll stay one more day and leave with you all tomorrow."

He wasn't afraid of facing Ouyang Feng, nor did he care about the other's superior numbers.

But he was afraid of snakes and loved a lively atmosphere.

Immediately, Old Imp looked at Medicine Master Huang. "Old Evil Huang, I'm staying here for one more day. You don't mind, do you?"

Medicine Master Huang glanced at him. "I don't mind."

Medicine Master Huang didn't mind, but Ouyang Feng, standing not far away, certainly did.

Just as Hong Qi had said, he did indeed harbor the intention of intercepting Old Imp on the way to seize the Nine Yin Manual.

He hadn't expected that before things even began, Hong Qi would spoil his plans.

If Old Imp stayed with Hong Qi and Meng Li, he really would be helpless. He would already have to use underhanded tricks just to take down Old Imp; adding Hong Qi would be a major headache, not to mention Meng Li, who seemed even more difficult to deal with.

Furthermore, being on the sea was also disadvantageous for Ouyang Feng.

This was because he and Ouyang Ke hailed from the Western Regions and were not proficient in swimming.

At this thought, Ouyang Feng gave Hong Qi a resentful look and turned to board the ship.

Hong Qi noticed the gaze but felt no fear; instead, he was somewhat smug.

He and Ouyang Feng were naturally at odds; if the other was unhappy, he was happy.

...

On the ship.

Ouyang Feng thought back on what had happened during this visit to Peach Blossom Island. The more he thought, the angrier he became, and he raised his hand to kill the servant closest to him.

Seeing this, the surrounding servants were terrified but dared not show the slightest bit of it.

Ouyang Ke walked over with several sheets of paper. Seeing the scene, he also kept his gaze lowered and focused.

Once he drew near, he handed the papers to Ouyang Feng. "Uncle, these are the parts of the Nine Yin Manual that your nephew recorded during the competition."

Ouyang Feng's eyes brightened slightly. He snatched the papers and examined them carefully, soon sighing with emotion, "As expected of the Nine Yin Manual, it is truly incomparably exquisite."

But a moment later, a look of regret appeared on his face. "A pity there is only this small portion."

Saying this, Ouyang Feng squinted at Ouyang Ke and said with dissatisfaction, "Why didn't you memorize everything in that booklet at the time?"

Ouyang Ke's eye twitched.

Even though he was well aware of Ouyang Feng's volatility, he was still somewhat speechless at this moment.

But after just a second, Ouyang Ke said, "The content in that booklet was only a portion of The Lower Volume of the Nine Yin Manual. Even if your nephew had memorized it all, it wouldn't allow Uncle to see the full picture of the Nine Yin Manual. If Uncle wishes to obtain the Complete Manual, further planning is required."

Ouyang Feng said, "Of course I know that."

"From what we know now, only that kid named Meng has learned the Complete Manual of the Nine Yin Manual."

"Others, like Old Imp and Old Evil Huang, at most know half of it."

"So if we want to plan, it's best to start with that fellow Meng."

"Do you have any understanding of this person?"

Ouyang Ke thought for a moment and replied, "This Meng Li's origin is mysterious. Your nephew exchanged blows with him at the Zhao Kings Manor in the Jin Empire and tried to use the manor's influence to investigate him, but little information was obtained. All I know is that he comes from the Yihua Palace, is exceptionally witty, has high Martial Arts skills, possesses formidable methods, and is also skilled in using poison."

"As for his specific background, nothing is known."

"Also skilled in using poison?" Ouyang Feng's attention was piqued, and he then asked, "How does he compare to our White Camel Mountain?"

Ouyang Ke said, "Each has its strengths. His methods of using poison are strange and unpredictable, unlike our upright and straightforward ways."

He then gave a brief account of the several times Meng Li had used poison.

Ouyang Feng was greatly surprised by what he heard, then laughed, "Interesting. From what you've said, aside from his soft-heartedness, this kid is more like a Successor of the Western Venom than you are."

Ouyang Ke remained silent.

He had also had the same thought back then.

Then, Ouyang Feng added, "In that case, this kid is likely even harder to deal with than I imagined."

Ouyang Ke still said nothing.

He felt the same way, which was why he was reluctant to provoke Meng Li after several setbacks.

However, if they wanted to obtain the Nine Yin Manual, the remaining people besides Meng Li were also not to be trifled with: Medicine Master Huang and Old Imp went without saying, as their Martial Arts were no inferior to Ouyang Feng's. Guo Jing's Martial Arts were relatively weaker, but he was Hong Qi's disciple and Medicine Master Huang's son-in-law, and his relationship with Meng Li was also unusual. Moreover, he was still on Peach Blossom Island.

Thinking of all this, Ouyang Ke felt as if there was nowhere to start.

Ouyang Feng was also having a bit of a headache and finally could only say, "First, study the General Map of Peach Blossom Island that Old Evil Huang gave us. We'll discuss other matters later."

"Yes."

...

On Peach Blossom Island.

After Ouyang Feng and his group left, Huang Rong saw that the matter between her and Guo Jing was settled. She was completely relieved and happily took Guo Jing, Meng Li, and Mu Nianci to tour the island.

Hong Qi and Old Imp were being entertained by Medicine Master Huang.

Halfway through their tour, a servant suddenly came looking for the four of them and made a series of gestures with his hands.

Huang Rong understood and turned to Guo Jing, Meng Li, and Mu Nianci, saying, "My father wants us to go over."

Soon, led by the servant, the four of them arrived at the garden and met Medicine Master Huang, Hong Qi, and Old Imp.

Upon meeting, Huang Rong asked Medicine Master Huang, "Father, why did you ask us to come here?"

Medicine Master Huang said, "I just discussed it with Brother Qi. Since the marriage between you and Guo Jing has been settled and your ages are appropriate, we might as well set a wedding date and hold the ceremony as soon as possible. But Brother Qi said that Guo Jing's mother is still alive, and he has other Masters."

"By all rights, they must be informed of your marriage, and it would be best to invite them to attend."

"Therefore, I want Guo Jing to leave tomorrow with Brother Qi, Young Hero Meng, and the others to invite his mother and several Masters to Peach Blossom Island."

Seeing Medicine Master Huang say this, Guo Jing was overjoyed.

Huang Rong, however, said suspiciously, "Let Brother Jing leave tomorrow? Father, you're not trying to send him away again, are you?"

...