Junior female apprentice

Inside the library, a firework suddenly exploded in front of Chu Xisheng.

For some unknown reason, his character panel underwent another change. The "Reputation" column, previously showing 'Ninth Rank (Real),' had now become 'Ninth Rank (Solid).' His martial arts points had also increased from '11' to '16.' If the earlier increase in martial arts points had some explanation, this time it was completely inexplicable.

However, Chu Xisheng didn't have time to pay attention to these changes as he was busy fleeing for his life. Just after the "earthquake" inside the building a while ago, a group of masked individuals emerged and started killing people. They were dressed as inner disciples, but their martial prowess was extremely high, and several martial arts instructors present were killed one after another.

Everyone present scattered and fled, and Chu Xisheng, seizing the opportunity, ran to the front and climbed up to the fourth floor using another staircase. As he ran, he scanned the surroundings, trying to find a reliable hiding place.

His eyes suddenly lit up, and he accelerated, rushing to a bookshelf placed in the corner of the corridor. Chu Xisheng stepped on the grid of the bookshelf and quickly ascended to the ceiling beam. Although the fourth floor was divided into several different-sized rooms by wooden walls, the ceiling beams were interconnected without being blocked.

Chu Xisheng carefully walked on the beam, trying not to make a sound or raise any dust. He was only worried about the footprints he left behind, but no matter how hard he thought, there was nothing he could do. This meant that once the assailants reached the beam, they would definitely discover his trail.

Chu Xisheng soon found a secluded corner, but as he walked past it, he saw a person already sitting there. It was a girl of similar age to him, with a delicate lily hair bun, exquisite features, a lily-shaped gemstone hairpin embedded between her eyebrows, and large captivating eyes. She was also wearing a modified blue inner disciple's attire, which was more fitted and adorned with lily and peony patterns at the collar and cuffs.

Her slender legs hung outside the beam, swinging playfully, appearing both carefree and beautiful. Chu Xisheng was slightly surprised, thinking that even among the newly promoted inner disciples of the Zhengyang Martial Hall, there was such a beautiful girl?

However, during the three months he had spent in the martial hall, his actual time in the hall did not exceed five days, so he didn't know many people. Chu Xisheng smiled kindly at the girl, "I'll join you here, hope you don't mind."

The lily girl glanced at him askew and casually waved her hand, seemingly indifferent to his presence. However, Chu Xisheng's expression turned solemn as he noticed that the slight breeze caused by her hand erased all the footprints he had left on the beam. Did she use some kind of technique just now? This girl seemed to be proficient in both martial arts and techniques, and at least had the cultivation of an eighth-rank practitioner.

Chu Xisheng looked at the lily girl in amazement, wondering if she was really just an inner disciple? However, he immediately put aside her identity and shifted his gaze downwards, his expression growing serious.Looking down from the beam, he could see a stream of people pouring out from three staircases. Those people were all his fellow senior brothers and sisters.

Most of them were pale and anxious, being herded in by twenty or so men and women armed with swords, exuding a menacing air, as they filed in from the stairwell. Though these thugs had no intention of committing violence, their words and actions were extremely brutal, resorting to beatings and lashings at the slightest resistance, showing no mercy.Two individuals merely glanced around and were brutally beaten, blood streaming down as they collapsed to the ground.The thugs forcefully drove the crowd into various rooms and then compelled all disciples to take down thick books from the shelves and flip through them.

Chu Xisheng's eyes revealed confusion. The actions of these thugs left him puzzled. What were they doing? It seemed like they were searching for something. Could it be related to the "Yizhi Diagram"?Although Chu Yunyun was secretive about it, her words indicated that the "Yizhi Diagram" clearly concealed a significant secret, one potent enough to help her regain everything she lost.Just then, a young man in the third room from the left on this floor stood up joyfully, holding a thick book measuring half a foot. "I found it! There's a 'mu' character behind this line, should be a personal annotation by Qin Muge."

The nearby thugs were alarmed, and a young man with a black eyepatch over his left eye and wielding a large tiger-headed blade promptly strode over. He snatched the book and carefully examined it for a moment, disappointment evident on his face. Clearly, the book did not contain what he was seeking.

"It is indeed an annotation by Qin Muge! Release him," the one-eyed young man ordered, pressing his hand on the hilt of his blade, casting a fierce and chilling gaze over the numerous disciples in the room. "Continue searching! Only those who find the annotations and notes left by Qin Muge can leave this library unscathed today. Those who fail to find them will not survive!"

The group of young disciples all turned pale, trembling in fear.Upon hearing this, Chu Xisheng raised an eyebrow, his expression peculiar. It turned out that the source of today's calamity was related to his dear sister.

"That's the Blood Wind Bandit Group under Li Daogui of the Blood Wind Sword. It seems they came for that non-existent 'Reverse God Flag.'"

The lily-like girl appeared by his side without warning, sneering as she looked down. "It's said to be a treasure that can change fate, seizing the creation of the heavens and earth. It's rumored that both the War God and the Foolish Duke once obtained it, using it to rebel against the heavens. Many speculate that this Reverse God Flag fell into the hands of the hegemon, Qin Muge.

However, I've been in this library for over ten days, scouring it from top to bottom, yet I've found nothing. There is nothing here that they seek."Chu Xisheng's face twitched slightly, and the information hinted at by the girl was astonishing. She didn't seem to be a respectable inner disciple.

He wrote a few words in the accumulated dust on the beam: "Reverse God Flag? What's that?"The girl chuckled lightly, playing with the braid on the side of her temple, and sneered, "My surname is Lu, just an ordinary inner disciple, unworthy of being called a master."At that moment, Chu Xisheng's heart suddenly stirred, and he looked toward a window not far away.

Where his gaze landed, a paper crane enveloped in yellow spiritual light abruptly flew in through the window.Strangely, despite thugs guarding all the windows on this floor, none of them noticed the paper crane's presence; they seemed to see and hear nothing.After flying in, the paper crane flapped its wings, circling around the top beams before gliding gracefully to hover in front of Chu Xishi.Was this paper crane coming towards him?

Chu Xisheng looked bewildered, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately took the paper crane in his hand.It turned out to be a letter. As Chu Xisheng unfolded the paper crane, he saw several lines of small characters on both sides of the yellow paper.The first thing he noticed was the signature—a red official seal bearing nine neatly written clerical characters: "Commander Cao Xuan of Xiushui County."After reading it, Chu Xisheng felt a sense of awe and puzzlement.

How did this illustrious Jin Yi Qianhu know about him? And why did this person contact him using a symbolic letter?

Chu Xisheng suppressed his emotions and carefully read the words on the symbolic paper. The letter began with a brief introduction of the situation, followed by a discussion of national righteousness. It hoped that he would hold chivalry in his heart, step forward, and cooperate with the Jin Yi Wei to exterminate the eighth-ranking martial artist of the Blood Wind Bandit Group, assisting the court in eradicating these multifarious evil bandits. If Chu Xisheng agreed, he could leave his mark on this piece of symbolic paper, and the troops of the Jin Yi Wei would launch a coordinated attack from the outside, providing him with an opportunity.

Once successful, there would be a substantial reward from the Qianhu of Xiu Shui County. What concerned Chu Xisheng was that at the end of this symbolic letter, there was also a veiled mention of the travel permits and household registration of him and his sister. In ancient times, anyone who traveled more than a hundred miles from their place of residence needed a travel permit issued by the local government, otherwise they would be punished according to the law.

Da Ning's management of household registration was very strict, with a check every three years, prioritizing households over individuals, making it convenient for the court to control the area and collect head taxes. People without proper household registration would not only be punished for fleeing households, but would also be unable to join any martial arts schools, engage in business, join the army, participate in examinations, and so on.

Three months ago, the two of them settled in Xiu Shui County and had to buy a travel permit from the black market. The real Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun came from Tai Shan County in Dongzhou, but their entire family was killed by bandits. However, their travel permit was left behind and was bought by the two "siblings" as proof of their settlement in Xiu Shui Jun.

The girl also leaned over to read Chu Xisheng's letter. Despite Chu Xisheng's attempts to conceal it, there was no avail, as the space on the beam was limited and he dared not make too much noise. This girl was also bold, sticking close to him. Her strength was still considerable, as she forcefully twisted Chu Xisheng's arm back with one hand. Chu Xisheng, feeling helpless, could only let her be.

Fortunately, after the girl finished reading the letter, she withdrew, clucking her tongue, saying, "This Li Daogui's methods are truly extraordinary. The Jin Yi Wei must have been driven to desperation by him to seek help from a disciple who hasn't even reached the second stage of Yuan cultivation. Also, it seems there's an issue with your household registration? This is a common tactic of the Jin Yi Wei, using coercion and temptation, employing both soft and hard methods. They're currently using diplomacy before resorting to force. If persuasion fails, then they'll use power to coerce you into submission, even at the cost of your life."

Chu Xisheng's expression, however, fluctuated uncertainly.

His weakness was truly grasped by the one surnamed Cao. He couldn't easily give up his current identity, as it would mean that their three months of effort at Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall would all be in vain. They must seek other means to obtain the Pure Yang Secret Technique.And then there was that painting of the Fiery-Eyed Map - they had worked so hard for so long, and they were just one step away from unveiling the immense secret hidden within it.

Chu Xisheng took a deep breath and calmed his mind. He once again turned his gaze to the area below the beam, observing the situation while also looking at the illusionary screen in his eyes.It was impossible to fight desperately, but he still wanted to see how things played out before making a decision. With the system as his backup, he might still have a chance.Chu Xisheng scanned around, his gaze finally settling on a man. Most of the thugs were armed, but this man was carrying a peach wood sword on his back, with a few talismans attached to his body.

At a glance, it was clear that he was their adept, as adept practitioners of his level usually didn't carry any metal on their bodies before reaching the seventh rank. However, Chu Xisheng felt that something was off about this man.The man's physique was too robust, wearing loose disciple robes that still managed to highlight his chest muscles.

"The person you're looking at isn't their adept; he's actually a seventh-rank martial practitioner. They're very cunning; the real adept has always been hiding among those students," the Lily Girl spoke, forcefully snatching the symbolic letter from Chu Xisheng's hand.

She grabbed Chu Xisheng's hand and bit his finger, drawing blood. With immense strength, Chu Xisheng couldn't resist at all, and he was stunned. "What are you doing?"

"Of course, I'm going to act with chivalry and justice, to eradicate evil and promote good!" The Lily Girl responded with a smile, simultaneously grabbing Chu Xisheng's hand and quickly writing a few lines of text on the symbolic letter.