Xiao Ziru found an abandoned academy for everyone to stay. An Rongxun specifically arranged for Mao Dongli and the other to stay in the more intact and clean side rooms in the backyard for them to recuperate. He himself would sleep on the ground in the main hall with the others.
Wang Chongyang went inside to check on Mi Yangxia's injuries. In the garden, which resembled a wild forest, he encountered Mao Dongli. Mao Dongli explained, "I've just sent out a signal for reinforcements from our brothers and to attend to Brother Mi." Wang Chongyang replied, "In that case, you two stay here with peace of mind. I'll go back to the main hall to follow the situation." Mao Dongli said, "No, I want to go with you. Not to mention the past friendship between the gang leader Xu and the layman, but today we must repay their righteous rescue!" As Wang Chongyang was bewildered, Mao Dongli asked, "What is the layman's relationship with the sect leader An?" Wang Chongyang recalled that it was nothing more than casual conversations during the few times when Jianghu figures from the Jing-Xiang region formed a labor relief group to comfort the troops in Chu Prefecture. Without waiting for his reaction, Mao Dongli continued, "For the past two to three years, there have been rumors that the Jing Tian Sect has been engaging in illicit dealings for money and colluding with the Dark Swordsmen. How can I let you risk this?" Wang Chongyang looked up at the bright moon, its radiant and noble glow, less real and reliable than the faint black clouds beside it. Seeing his frown and silence, Mao Dongli quickly considered where he needed to focus his efforts. Just then, Xiao Ziru entered and said, "Brother Mao, the sect leader Wan of the Xiao Qing Sect wishes to meet with you."
Wang Chongyang followed the two back to the main hall and saw a woman with pearly teeth and arched eyebrows, her eyes bright and spirited. Though over thirty, she still smiled charmingly. She was seated opposite An Rongxun. As Mao and Wang entered, the woman sized them up, rose, and stepped forward to introduce herself, saying, "I am Wan Xilan, the sect leader of the Xiao Qing Sect. Are you Brother Mao of the Hui Yu Gang? And this gentleman is..." As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Wang Chongyang's face. Wang Chongyang replied, "My surname is Wang, my Daoist name is Chongyang." Mao Dongli added, "Layman Wang is the 'Number One Person Who Righteously Defended Chu Prefecture,' Wang Shixiong." Wan Xilan faced Wang Chongyang and said, "Searching for treasures and artifacts is a matter of individual ability. The Nong Xiu Gang setting up a trap and poisoning us is against the code of the Jianghu. Why don't we unite and help each other? Once we obtain the scriptures, then according to the rules of the martial world, the most skilled will win?" Wang Chongyang replied, "I have already stated that I have no interest in this book. My purpose here is only to remind everyone that the Jin soldiers intend to 'play the role of the oriole behind the cicada' and snatch the clues you have worked so hard to obtain." Wan Xilan smiled charmingly and said, "Layman Wang's righteous deeds need no further explanation. My Xiao Qing Sect has resisted the puppet regime of Liu Qizheng of the Jin Kingdom for three generations, earning widespread praise. As for the Hui Yu Gang, they also worry for the country and its people. If we work together, how can the Jin bandits gain any advantage?" Wang Chongyang looked at An Rongxun's seated back and asked, "What does Sect Leader An think?" An Rongxun gave a dry laugh and said, "More friends mean more strength. The four of us will retreat to the garden and vacate this place for Sect Leader Wan and her disciples to rest." Wan Xilan replied, "No need. We have already settled outside the academy."
A dark figure flashed from the main hall into the garden, then attempted to exit the compound. Xiao Ziru pursued and blocked him, whispering, "Sect Leader Peng, please remain calm." Peng Tingyong, seething with anger, said, "Go chop that smiling, insincere woman. She wants to pick up benefits and share our intelligence, and she's still speaking sarcastically. As for that hypocritical moralist who considers himself so pure..." Xiao Ziru advised, "It seems that what we know, others also know. The Wan surname came looking for a 'shield,' and weren't we the same? Whoever endures to the end, can fight to the end. Sect Leader, don't dig in the house for a rat. Little Xiao still counts on your support." Seeing his anger slightly subside, Xiao Ziru half-pushed and half-guided him back, and then nodded slightly towards the dark area among the bushes.
Before dawn, everyone was ready to depart. The sky had been overcast, perhaps due to the impending heavy rain, or perhaps because as they walked, the terrain lowered, and the dense foliage further obscured the sky. Wan Xilan suddenly said, "Thirteen." Some nearby were confused, some uncertain, but only Wang Chongyang said, "Seventeen." Although he had only detected sixteen groups of people. Wan Xilan smiled and said loudly, "Why hide your heads and show your tails? Come out boldly. Let's go together to find the scriptures. Isn't it all about true ability?" Wang Chongyang was slightly taken aback but also appreciative. Soon, they saw seven or eight groups of people emerging from different directions in the woods, with two groups approaching. "I, Tang Yu Yi of Gangmen, am here. Let's see how everyone relies on their true abilities, heh!" Another group said, "Brother Shixiong, with your return, the crooked ways of the Jianghu can be expected to fade." This was spoken by the Island Master Dai of the Niudao Gang. Wang Chongyang seized the opportunity to remind everyone, "My purpose in coming here is to tell you all that the Jin soldiers have already set up an ambush around here. Whoever finds clues to the hidden books will be plundered." However, no one responded. Wang Chongyang sighed inwardly: How had people become so indifferent to the "Jin's intentions" in these eight years?
As they moved forward, apart from occasional conversations, everyone remained largely silent and vigilant. It was nearing noon, but the sky looked as if night had fallen. Wang Chongyang heard voices from ahead, indicating that the path ahead was blocked, presumably by a high wall. Wan Xilan whispered beside him, "Yuan Xiangxian built this mansion for the founding duke, but in reality, it's a military fortress. He feared that Li Cunxu of the Later Tang would not accept his surrender, so he used it as a means of survival and to protect the wealth gained through bribery and exploitation. Later, when Ping An surrendered to Tang, he added pavilions and waterside structures in the front and on the sides to conceal it." Wang Chongyang suddenly thought that the rumors of treasures in this place had circulated for a while in the early years. Now, with treasures and ancient books further tempting people, was this the result of a meticulously planned scheme by someone?
Wang Chongyang, Wan Xilan, and the members of the Jing Tian Sect moved forward and saw a high wall covered with green moss and vines, stretching across like a mountain range, with no visible beginning or end. Wang Chongyang looked at Xiao Ziru, who understood and explained, "The Mi Ming Institute might have a way to enter and reach the original mansion of the founding duke, but it's uncertain if it exists or where it is. According to the information we received, this path leads directly to the backyard of the founding duke's mansion. Who knew it would turn out like this?"
Three people couldn't restrain themselves. They grabbed vines and began to climb the wall. One of them suddenly cried out in pain, "My hands? My hands!" Everyone looked up and saw that his hands up to his forearms had turned purple. He swayed for a moment and then fell backward. The other two also fell behind the wall. Peng Jiazheng said, "This is the work of the Nong Xiu Gang." Mao Dongli replied, "It's the vines themselves that are poisonous."
Wan Xilan revealed her ancestral weapon, the "Shou Que Huan Dao" (Guardian Deficit Ring Saber), and leaped onto the wall. Unexpectedly, the edge of the wall was very narrow, and the position behind it was extremely steep. It was only now that she realized the reason the three people fell was not just poisoning, but she had also lost her balance and tumbled into the ditch below. Wang Chongyang appeared in time, flew forward, held the shield-like Shou Que Huan Dao, and with a surge of force, threw it to another higher wall behind her, following her with a similar maneuver.
The top of the second wall was covered with sharp stones and steel shards, making it even harder to stand than the first. Wan Xilan held the Shou Que Huan Dao in reverse to defend herself, then flipped over the wall. However, the withered forest behind her, with its bare branches, was as hard and sharp as sword blades, waiting to wound anyone who fell. At this moment, Wang Chongyang crossed beside her, leaned down, and spun his sword, clearing the branches at her feet; meanwhile, she held up the Shou Que Huan Dao to block the flying debris and broken branches for Wang Chongyang. Landing safely, she turned to look at Wang Chongyang, who was covered in flying fragments, and she no longer felt like smiling.
Wang Chongyang looked up in the distance and saw An Rongxun also descending in an upside-down position. His palms were rotating and striking in all directions. He thought: This set of martial arts, the "Ling Ping Shen Gong" specialized by the sect leader, was indeed formidable, and his Qinggong (lightness skill) was also quite impressive. Wang Chongyang approached and asked, "Sect Leader An, they have all encountered danger and cannot break through?" An Rongxun replied, "They shouldn't have. They are all observing." Wang Chongyang surveyed the surrounding environment and turned to the two of them, saying, "This place was meticulously constructed, but through years of natural erosion and changes, it's difficult to deal with it using the principles of formations and mechanisms." An Rongxun remained noncommittal, and Wan Xilan smiled, saying, "Since we've come, let's see what this dragon's pool and tiger's den looks like."
They explored for about two hours, turning right around a mountain rock. The road then descended rapidly and curved to the left. After another hour or so, they emerged from the dense forest, and the sky and scenery opened up brilliantly. Wang Chongyang gazed straight ahead. Beneath the dark rock formations stood a palace-style pavilion. Although partially ruined, it still exuded the splendor of its former glory. Seeing him lost in thought, Wan Xilan reminded him, "According to the information we received, the first brocade pouch is hidden in the waterside residence." She glanced sideways at An Rongxun, thinking, "This information has been widely spread. He should know it and have no reaction." Just as Wang Chongyang was about to reply, a loud slap sound was heard, followed by someone cursing, "I told you this wasn't it, that..." Wang Chongyang vaguely heard the last two words he was about to curse, and his heart skipped a beat.