A freighter docked by the shore, but before any cargo could be unloaded, an old man descended from the vessel.
The elder was covered in wrinkles and had a head of white hair, yet his physique was remarkably robust. His eyes, slightly upturned, gleamed with sharp radiance as he surveyed his surroundings, exuding an aura of imposing authority even in his stillness.
With hands clasped behind his back, his steps were neither rushed nor slow, yet remarkably swift. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight.
Meanwhile, in a commercial building in Jiangcheng, within a company named Jiangcheng Property Consulting Group, a gaunt old man rose from his seat and walked towards the door. He addressed a young man seated at a computer, "Qian'er, come with me to receive a guest."
"Huh? A guest?"
The young man, Qian'er, was surprised for two reasons. Firstly, he hadn't heard of anyone scheduled for a visit that day.
Secondly, his master was personally going to greet them, indicating the visitor's status must be considerable.
However, he dared not ask further questions and followed his master out the door.
The property company was bustling with a multitude of busy personnel.
As they passed through the work area, it was as if everyone else hadn't seen them, not even lifting their heads.
When the two reached the ground floor of the building, it was a perfect coincidence as they saw a sturdy old man approaching with his hands behind his back.
Yet, Qian'er was not surprised at all, for his master had always been a master of foresight.
"Elder Xu, welcome to Jiangcheng."
"Consultant Bai, you truly are a master of foresight; you already knew I would be arriving," Elder Xu said with admiration.
Elder Xu, named Xu Zhenwu, was one of the twelve elders of the Tide Society. His position was lofty, and he rarely appeared in public. However, with Jiangcheng's recent string of failures, two of which involved his own disciples, he had personally come to Jiangcheng to resolve the issues, or perhaps, to eliminate those who caused them.
The "Consultant Bai" he spoke of was Bai Xinghe, who had already died twice at the hands of Liu Nanfeng.
In fact, since Bai Xinghe participated in that human experiment twenty years ago, his manifestations had become countless. It was likely that no one, except for the leader of the Tide Society, knew which one was the true Bai Xinghe.
"Elder Xu is too kind. These are merely insignificant tricks; they are no comparison to Elder Xu's capabilities," Bai Xinghe said humbly.
"Indeed, they are merely insignificant tricks that are not to be taken seriously. Otherwise, how could the Tide Society have lost so many people in Jiangcheng recently, resulting in such significant losses?"
Xu Zhenwu, who had been smiling, abruptly changed his tone, his words turning sharp.
Bai Xinghe remained unfazed, chuckling, "Elder Xu speaks the truth. The responsibility for the recent events in Jiangcheng indeed falls on me, but I am also at a loss. Since six months ago, the heavenly mechanisms in Jiangcheng have been in complete chaos, and the entire city has become a mix of dragons and snakes. I have truly found it difficult to manage. However, now that Elder Xu has arrived, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
The young man named Qian'er, standing behind him, glanced at Bai Xinghe with surprise. While Bai Xinghe usually appeared cheerful and amiable, those close to him knew that he was actually difficult to get along with, exceedingly proud and self-assured. It was unusual to see him so accommodating.
Hearing Bai Xinghe's candid words, Xu Zhenwu, who had been about to question him, found himself unable to voice his accusations.
The two had not yet reached a point of open confrontation. Moreover, Bai Xinghe held a special position within the Tide Society. Though not a member of the Tide Society itself, his status was parallel to Xu Zhenwu's, both reporting to the Supreme Leader of the Tide Society, alongside several other consultants.
While each consultant might not be exceptionally powerful, they all possessed unique and special abilities.
Bai Xinghe detailed the recent events as he led Xu Zhenwu into the company.
Although Xu Zhenwu had already been thoroughly briefed on everything that had transpired in Jiangcheng, he listened intently, occasionally interjecting with questions.
This showed that Xu Zhenwu, contrary to his rough appearance, was actually a person of meticulous and cautious disposition.
"So, it has been confirmed that he is Feng Zhirun?" Xu Zhenwu asked with a solemn and cautious expression.
Bai Xinghe nodded gently.
They had long suspected Liu Nanfeng's identity, and had made several attempts to test him. This had also angered Liu Nanfeng, leading him to destroy two of their bases. However, these actions only further solidified their conviction about Liu Nanfeng's identity.
"Has he recovered his memories?"
Bai Xinghe nodded. "He has made several moves, and in some instances, he employed sword techniques of immense power. I surmise it is the "Bu Er Swordplay"."
Xu Zhenwu took a deep breath upon hearing this.
He still vividly recalled Feng Zhirun's might. The "Unrivaled Sword Sage" Feng Zhirun, and his "Unrivaled Sword," were not mere boasts.
The countless corpses of Tide Society members were the testament to his fame, striking fear into the hearts of the entire organization.
That period was arguably the darkest time in the Tide Society's history. Even the Supreme Leader of the Tide Society at the time was slain by Feng Zhirun's sword.
A new leader could be chosen, but the fact that he had plundered the Tide Society's treasures accumulated over millennia caused immense pain. These were their foundation; with those items, no matter how dire their straits, they could rise again.
Feng Zhirun had effectively crippled them, forcing them to flee overseas. Otherwise, Da Xia might not have achieved such peace.
"Then how are you so certain that item is not on Feng Zhirun?" Xu Zhenwu inquired further.
Bai Xinghe smiled, not answering the question.
Alright, it was a foolish question. The other party was skilled in divination, so naturally, he had calculated it.
Of course, this was Xu Zhenwu's own assumption.
...
"Back then, Feng Zhirun killed the leader of the Tide Society and plundered the Tide Society's Spiritual Tide Pavilion, filled with countless treasures. It's a shame that with the advent of the Age of Dharma Decline, many items lost their spiritual essence and became ordinary objects," Yang Ruoyun said with a look of regret.
When Liu Nanfeng had entrusted his collection to her back then, she had been truly astonished. Along with her astonishment came a deep sense of regret.
"What is there to regret? With the spiritual energy revival now, and slow nurturing, perhaps they can recover one day," Liu Nanfeng said with a smile.
Yang Ruoyun nodded, agreeing with Liu Nanfeng's sentiment.
She continued, "Among the items Feng Zhirun took, three were related to the inheritance of the Tide Society, which is why they have been intent on retrieving them."
"Three items?" The Su sisters were surprised.
Yang Ruoyun nodded.
"What are those three items?" Liu Nanfeng asked with some curiosity.
"The first is 'Guan Shan Hai' (Observing Mountains and Seas), the second is the 'Dao Stele', and the third, I do not know."
"Huh? Didn't he leave all the items to you?" Su Huamei asked from the side, somewhat surprised.
Yang Ruoyun shook her head.
"He only left 'Guan Shan Hai' to me, and I've returned it to you now," Yang Ruoyun said, turning to Liu Nanfeng.
Liu Nanfeng pursed his lips. He truly felt a great debt of gratitude towards Yang Ruoyun for this matter.
"Then what about the other two items?"
"The second, the 'Dao Stele', is said to be an item brought back to the mortal realm from the Heavenly Palace by the Tide Society. It records the great Dao of heaven and earth. A single glance is said to reveal the essence of all things and enable the comprehension of the laws of the great Dao."
Liu Nanfeng was surprised. This thing sounded somewhat familiar.
"As for the third item, I do not know. He left these three items to the three people he valued most." Yang Ruoyun's face showed a hint of jealousy, but also a trace of sweetness.
"Three?"
The Su sisters exclaimed in unison, then turned to look at Liu Nanfeng.
Liu Nanfeng scratched his face, looking innocent.
"Come here, we need to talk properly."
Su Jinxiu grabbed Liu Nanfeng by his collar and pulled him inside.
"Heh heh..." Yang Ruoyun chuckled mischievously.
"Did you say that deliberately?" Su Huamei, who was about to enter as well, asked suspiciously.
"This is the truth; I wasn't making it up," Yang Ruoyun said with a straight face.
Then, she giggled again.
"However, it's good for him to suffer a little."
Whether he was Feng Zhirun or Liu Nanfeng, a woman's affections were clear, and her dislikes were not directed at the person.
"Wife, I really don't know anything. It's not my fault..."
At that moment, Liu Nanfeng's pleading voice could be heard from inside the room.
ps: Only one chapter today, I'm experiencing writer's block and need to organize my thoughts. I apologize profusely and offer a kowtow.
He Chuke Tao reminds you: Remember to collect after reading.