Jianghu Qimen Lu

Chapter 75 Creating New Glory

Iron Abacus laughed, "Just now, when I saw White Lightning strike our third brother's pressure point and knock him unconscious, I had already held my breath and activated my protective divine skill. Sure enough, he attacked immediately. Although at first glance it looked like he struck my lumbar disc, I was actually unharmed! To avoid arousing his suspicion, I deliberately dropped my abacus, and then seized the opportunity to capture them all!" Tornado laughed, "Second brother is resourceful and wise. He had already planned everything meticulously and was confident of success. I admire you! I admire you!" Thousand-Hand Guanyin was overjoyed to hear that Emperor Qianlong and the others had been trapped, and said repeatedly, " According to our informant, White Lightning obtained the "Complete Guide to the Martial World" last night. Now we can coerce him into handing over the "Complete Guide to the Martial World" and releasing our Grand Master! Iron Abacus laughed, "That's what I think too!" The two of them came to the edge of the trap together, and Iron Abacus shouted down, "Lord White, you should discuss with the Emperor when to release our Grand Master and hand over the 'Complete Guide to the Martial World'? We will release you then!" Although his voice was not loud, he had secretly used his secret transmission technique to subtly and clearly convey the message to the ears of the people below.

Bai Shandian was administering blood transfusions and massages to Emperor Qianlong when, after a short while, Qianlong slowly regained consciousness. Qinglong reported to Qianlong, "Just now, the Moqing Society members shouted that they would release us all if we handed over the 'Complete Book of Jianghu' and released their leader, Choujiao!" Bai Shandian cursed Qinglong inwardly for speaking too quickly. He was just thinking about how to conceal the "Complete Book of Jianghu" and carefully craft his explanation to the Emperor, but Qinglong had blurted it all out!

Sure enough, Qianlong stared at Bai Shandian and asked, "So, you've already succeeded? Shandian!" Bai Shandian couldn't hide it any longer and had to say, "Yes, Your Majesty, I have indeed obtained the 'Complete Guide to the Martial World,' but unfortunately it's not with me. I've carefully placed it in an extremely secluded place; even General Hong doesn't know where it's hidden." Qianlong asked him in a deep voice, "Now what do you intend to do? Tell me your thoughts, Shandian!" Bai Shandian bowed respectfully and said, "Of course, Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance! As long as they are willing to release Your Majesty, I will agree to their request!" Qianlong's worry turned to joy, and he laughed, "Shandian understands me perfectly!" "Lightning knows my mind! Very well, go and tell them." Bai Shandian, using his secret teleportation skills, looked up and shouted, "Listen up, leaders of the Moqing Society: His Majesty has agreed to your demands. Release us now!" The Iron Abacus above sneered, "Lord Bai, please bear with us for a moment and rest down here! We'll send down writing materials so His Majesty can write an imperial edict pardoning our leader. Then we can go and welcome him out of prison! Wouldn't it be better to release you after everything is settled?" Bai Shandian cursed the treachery inwardly, but could only say, "As you wish!"

A moment later, a brocade box was lowered down by a rope. Bai Shandian caught it, opened it, and found that it contained all the essential writing implements. Qianlong sighed, filled with emotion, and muttered bitterly, "I never imagined that I, a dignified and renowned emperor, would be so coerced by a bunch of petty scoundrels to write an imperial edict pardoning a wanted criminal. It's utterly shameful! I'll remember this. After I'm out of danger, you all remember one thing: kill every member of the Moqing Society, regardless of age or gender, kill every single one you see, even if it's ten thousand! This resentment is truly unbearable!" As he spoke, a murderous glint appeared in his eyes, and his face turned a deep purplish-red! Bai Shandian and the four guards shouted in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Emperor Qianlong squatted at the bottom of the cave, spreading the Xuan paper on his lap. The white tiger, very obedient, quickly bowed and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, you may write on my back." Qianlong smiled slightly and said, "Very well!" He spread the paper on his broad back, and the green dragon quickly squatted down to grind the inkstone, handing the wolf-hair brush to Qianlong after a moment. This emperor was quite literate; he quickly wrote the imperial edict and handed it to the white tiger to put in a brocade box. As the brocade box floated up again, Bai Shandian shouted upwards, "You'd better drag me up too, because only I know where the 'Complete Guide to the Martial World' is!" Tie Suanpan above pondered for a moment, then said, "Fine, but you must be tied up after you come out, to prevent you from playing any tricks!" Bai Shandian snorted and angrily retorted, "With the Emperor in distress here, how dare I harbor any wicked thoughts? You really don't trust people!" Tie Suanpan coldly smiled and said, "Better safe than sorry. It's best to be careful with you cunning lackeys!" Bai Shandian yelled, "Alright, I'll do as you say!"

A moment later, a long rope was lowered down, and Tie Suanpan shouted from above, "Have your men tie your hands behind your back and then around your waist, then we'll pull you up! Otherwise, hehe, you know the consequences!" The implication was clear: Bai Shandian had to obey unconditionally, or they wouldn't pull him up! Bai Shandian had no choice but to have Zhuque tie his arms behind his back and tighten the rope around his waist. Suddenly, he felt a tightening around his waist, and the rope was being pulled up. Bai Shandian whispered to the four warriors, "Take good care of His Majesty, I'll be right back!" The four warriors nodded in agreement. Qianlong comforted him, saying, "You be careful too, Shandian!" Bai Shandian smiled bitterly, "I understand! I'll act according to the situation!" As he spoke, he was already rising, quickly reaching the top of the cave, where he was pulled up onto solid ground.

Thousand-Hand Guanyin coldly chuckled, "Lord Bai, you've improved considerably in just three days! Your martial arts have greatly improved!" She walked up to him and suddenly attacked, her fingers flashing like lightning towards his nipple acupoint. Unexpectedly, Bai Shandian dodged backward, easily deflecting the attack. He channeled his inner strength into his arms and snapped the thick rope with a loud crack! With a clang, he drew his sword and thrust it at Thousand-Hand Guanyin! Seeing the unparalleled ferocity of the sword, Thousand-Hand Guanyin somersaulted and leaped ten feet away. Bai Shandian was about to give chase when Iron Abacus shouted, "Lord Bai, if you continue to be so stubborn, don't blame me for being impolite!" He quickly turned around and saw Iron Abacus at the cave entrance, peering inside with an abacus, seemingly preparing to launch iron beads! Fearing he might injure Emperor Qianlong, he quickly sheathed his longsword and said sternly, "As long as you cease to insult my dignity and challenge my bottom line, I can declare to you: I will absolutely not make a move again! I will obediently hand over the 'Complete Book of Jianghu' to you and assist you in rescuing Stinky Foot from the General's Mansion's water dungeon! You should understand that without my intervention, even if you had the Emperor's edict, I'm afraid General Hong wouldn't believe you!" The heroes of Mo Qinghui whispered among themselves, all nodding in agreement. Iron Abacus said, "Alright, we'll believe you this time." He turned to the Red Flower Society members and arranged, "Third Brother, Sixth Brother, Eighth Brother, and I will go with Lord Bai to the General's Mansion in Hangzhou to rescue the Grand Master. The rest of the heroes will be led by Heartbroken Blade and Fourth Brother, just keep an eye on the Emperor!" Heartbroken Blade, the Grand Master's page, exclaimed, "Second Brother is biased! I should be the one to go rescue the Grand Master! I've missed him terribly these past few days!" Before Iron Abacus could speak, someone chimed in, "Blade, you don't understand. Actually, the responsibility of guarding the Emperor is very important! Now that the 'Complete Book of Jianghu' has reappeared in the Jianghu, the entire martial arts world is shaken, and countless sects are coveting it! Who doesn't want to possess it? You and Fourth Brother must guard the Emperor well—this is the key to obtaining the 'Complete Book of Jianghu'!" Heartbroken Blade saw that it was Thousand-Hand Guanyin, whom he had always been wary of, and dared not say anything more, stepping aside. A burly man with a thick beard stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Thousand-Hand Guanyin and Iron Abacus, and said loudly, "Second Brother and Third Brother, rest assured, Thunderclap will definitely lead our Moqing Society brothers to stand firm at this post!" He was the fourth leader of the Moqing Society, renowned throughout the martial arts world for his Thunderclap Heart-Shattering Palm technique. In his hometown of Bianliang, Henan, he had once killed the Four Young Masters of Dongjing, who had dominated the city for years, with a single strike across the mountain, thus establishing his formidable reputation in the martial arts world and earning the nickname "Thunderclap." He was also a prominent figure within the Moqing Society, which was why Iron Abacus entrusted him with this important task.