Everything starts from Tian Long Ba Bu

Chapter 348 Before the war
The tenth day of October.

There are only seven days left until the battle at the top of the Forbidden City.

It turned out that half a month ago, a shocking news suddenly came out. The battle between 'Fu Yu Sword' Lang Fanyun and 'Magic Master' Pang Ban that was originally scheduled to block the river next year has been cancelled, and will be replaced by a decisive battle between 'Evil Spirit' Li Ruohai and Pang Ban.

Moreover, the battlefield of this battle is also extremely special. It is actually located in the most heavily guarded imperial city in the capital.

According to the revelations of the eight sects' disciples who traveled to the capital to attend the meeting, the instigation of this battlefield was said to have originated from Master Murong. It was because he chose to deal with the Tianming Sect that Zhu Yuanzhang, who had always been the strictest in controlling the martial arts world, was forced to agree to the news.

It is said that in the battle at the top of the Forbidden City, Master Murong took action again!

The three top masters in the world are about to fight at the top of the Forbidden City!

The people in the martial arts world who had been waiting for a long time were excited and everyone was eagerly awaiting the outcome of this battle.

Never had a duel been so spectacular and talked about so much.

Curious people gathered in the capital city in the hope of having a chance to catch a glimpse of the two.

Casinos of all sizes across the country even offer handicaps and accept bets on who will win or lose.

The Ghost King's Palace and the imperial guards repeatedly stated: starting from August 10th, no one is allowed to enter within one mile outside the imperial city, with only three exceptions.

This practice is similar to the one when the Meng King ordered the blockade of Changjie during the decisive battle between Chuanying and Meng Chixing, and it adds a mysterious color to the battle of blocking the river.

Never before had a duel aroused such concern and eagerness to know the outcome.

In Jinling Prefecture, there was no atmosphere of war on the streets. Except for the pleasure boats and small boats passing by on the Qinhuai River, the market was peaceful.

When the lights come on, the busiest streets are filled with music and singing, and the noise of carriages and horses. Passing by brothels and wine shops, you can hear the sounds of stringed instruments, finger-guessing games, and drinking contests.

The city is planted with weeping willows, a unique feature of the south of the Yangtze River.

Outside the imperial city, Yan Wuju, the 'Night Owl' who served as the commander of the East Factory, and Ye Sudong, the 'Emotional Exterminator' who served as the leader of the Imperial Guards, stood at the main entrance of the imperial city.

Looking back at the majestic imperial city behind him, Ye Sudong suddenly said, "Many people from major sects also wanted to come and watch the battle, and they have formally informed me."

Yan Wu Ju frowned and said, "Do they think they can still see the two of them fighting from a distance outside the Imperial City?"

Ye Sudong smiled bitterly and said, "This battle can be said to be the most exciting battle in the past hundred years. If it were not for my duties, even I would like to be there to watch the battle in person!"

Whether it was the factory guards led by Yan Wuju or the imperial guards led by Ye Sudong, there were many disciples from the eight sects participating in them.

Even though they are in high positions now, they still have to consider the relationship between them and the eight sects.

Yan Wu Ju said calmly: "Inside the imperial city, I'm afraid that except for those three people, other people will not get the permission of His Majesty!"

As Zhu Yuanzhang's confidants, the two of them knew Zhu Yuanzhang too well. He had a strong desire to control both the court situation and the so-called underworld.

Zhu Yuanzhang was forced to make some concessions because Pang Ban, Murong Fu and Li Ruohai were too powerful.

Otherwise, based on his previous temper, he would have dispatched troops and ordered them to besiege the three people together with the people from the eight sects.

……

Night had fallen. Pang Ban looked northward and thought of the Lanjiang Island, which was isolated in the Dongting Lake and was blocked by clouds and raging waves all year round.

The location of his final battle was supposed to be Lanjiang Island thousands of miles away, and his opponent was supposed to be Lang Fanyun.

But now Lang Fanyun took that step ahead of time and took the most critical step before him!
Pang Ban couldn't help feeling a little regretful for not being able to fight Lang Fanyun in time!
At this moment, the endless blue waves of Dongting Lake seemed to appear before his eyes.

In the vast blue waves, the lake surface several feet below the edge of the giant boat extends endlessly, with clouds floating in the sky, and the sparkling lake water reflects the afterglow of the sunset, surging back and forth, stirring the hearts of countless people.

What would the scene be like at this moment on the towering Lanjiang Island, which stands hundreds of feet high?

Pang Ban, standing at the bow, looked back at the past. Even with his composure that was not affected by the world, he couldn't help but sigh.

The most shocking moment in his life was the first time he saw Yan Jing'an.

That changed his future destiny.

That changed his future destiny.

Seven days later, what he faced was no longer the endless lake, but the Han imperial city built by Zhu Yuanzhang using the resources of the Central Plains, the most glorious pinnacle of power in the secular world.

He is about to start the final battle with Li Ruohai and that person!
He waited for more than twenty years.

This touching moment will come when the sun sets again before your eyes.

In the sky covered with sunset glow, he seemed to see Yan Jing'an's slender hands, as white as white jade and as white as frost, considerately turning page after page of the "Cihang Sword Canon" written in Sanskrit for him.

Just when Pang Ban suddenly recalled the past, Li Chimei and Fang Yeyu were standing quietly not far behind him.

Thinking of what they said before they parted, Jing'an stopped at the exit and spoke to him softly.

"Since this is the first time you called my name, I will let you accompany me to the Tingyu Pavilion to admire the crescent moon that is about to rise over the East Mountain!"

Soft words echo in the heart.

The sky darkened before my eyes, and the last rays of sunset disappeared under the lake.

The full moon appears fairy-like in the sky.

Pang Ban suddenly felt a strong longing for Yan Jing'an.

The waves are rolling!

Are you now in another wonderful and alien space, admiring this infinite starry sky full of mysteries with me, Pang Ban?
……

At the same time, Lanjiang Island.

In the small hut where Lang Fanyun once practiced seclusion, Ling Zhantian stood outside the door and hesitated for a long time.

In fact, when the news spread in the capital that Pang Ban would have the ultimate battle with Murong Fu and Li Ruohai on the night of the full moon, Ling Zhantian planned to visit his brother's former cottage.

But he had been avoiding it, fearing that once he opened the door, what would greet him would no longer be the brother in whom he had great trust, but a cold corpse.

It is said that the Eagle Hero once flew through the air amidst a huge Mongol army, but after all, this is a legend from more than a hundred years ago, and the truth of the story cannot be verified.

Although Ling Zhantian believed in Lang Fanyun's talent, he was still full of hesitation when he thought that he was about to challenge the last hurdle that had trapped countless martial artists for thousands of years.

Ling Zhantian smiled bitterly and shook his head, turned around and took a step forward, but suddenly stopped in horror.

He stopped because he realized one thing: no matter what the outcome was, he would have to face it himself.

Moreover, if his elder brother knew that he was so distracted, he would definitely make fun of him.

Although the small house where Lang Fanyun lives alone is not big, but since he brought back his eldest sister-in-law Miss Xixi, this seemingly not spacious house seems to contain countless wonders.

Even the open space outside the house was planted with all kinds of exotic flowers and plants by Miss Xixi.

Ling Zhantian looked at everything familiar in front of him, and he finally made up his mind.

But at this moment, his heart was still beating violently. Thinking of his eldest brother in the hut, he was worried about seeing the scene he least wanted to see, and his palms couldn't help sweating.

Ling Zhantian plucked up his courage, stretched out his right hand and pushed open the wooden door.

However, apart from the table and chairs, there was only a small bed in the cabin, nothing else.

As for his brother, whom he was most concerned about, there was no sign of him in the hut.

"Brother, did you succeed?"

Looking at the empty little house in front of him, Ling Zhantian could no longer control himself and tears welled up in his eyes.

Suddenly, Ling Zhantian found a letter on the table. He walked up slowly and picked it up. There was a line of small words written on it. "Zhantian personally!"

Looking at these four words, Ling Zhantian couldn't help but smile inexplicably.

"Brother, it turns out that people can really take that step!"

……

The bright moon hung high in the sky. Murong Fu sat upright on the top of the attic of the Ghost King's Mansion. He picked up a pot of wine with his right hand and drank it all. Under him, the four great sword slaves were quietly waiting.

The little princess Xu Yeyue of the Ghost King's Mansion was curiously looking at his figure in the garden, and beside her, the guards of the Ghost King's Mansion also saluted the white-clothed figure under the moonlight.

Soon, he will have a battle with Pang Ban, and there is rarely a ripple in his heart.

There are expectations, mixed with many other emotions.

Under the moonlight, he inadvertently thought of the figure who had been waiting for his return in Taihu Lake.

"The moon was bright at that time,

Once upon a time, the colorful clouds returned.

It is hard to get drunk again under the bright moon.
The colorful clouds will never return! "

Murong Fu suddenly remembered a poem Lang Fanyun wrote to commemorate his deceased wife Ji Xixi. At this moment, he seemed to understand Lang Fanyun's feelings at that time.

……

After an unknown amount of time, Ye Yu came behind Pang Ban who was standing at the bow of the ship and bowed and said, "Master, I have called all the people from the Magic Master Palace back to one place. We can set off today as long as you give me your order."

Pang Ban said calmly: "On the night of the full moon, after the battle on the top of the Forbidden City, regardless of victory or defeat, Ye Yu, you must lead everyone back to the outer domain immediately, marry, have children, and enjoy the rest of your life. Don't worry about the affairs of the Central Plains."

Fang Yeyu said respectfully: "Yeyu will follow the master's instructions."

After saying this, he stepped back and ordered everyone not to act on their own.

Pang Ban smiled bitterly. The Yuan Dynasty was finally over and there was no hope of a comeback.

Although he had the ability to extend the life of the Yuan Dynasty by a few years or even a dozen years, it was of no avail in the end. The Central Plains was too vast, and an unpopular foreign court could never survive by force alone.

The scene of that day came back to his mind.

Pang Ban leaned against the railing and looked at the setting sun that was sinking like a huge ship over the western hills. Yan Jing'an behind him said, "Brother Pang, do you want to play a game of chess with Jing'an?"

Pang Ban shook his head and said, "I'm sorry! Pang doesn't want to compete with Jing'an."

Yan Jing'an sighed, and said as softly as a dragonfly touching the water: "Then let Jing'an dare to ask the magician if there is still hope for the Great Yuan?"

On the Qinhuai River, the small boat under Pang Ban's feet was pushed by the current and should have sailed far away, but it miraculously stopped at the shore.

……

Feng Xinglie rode his horse through the streets and alleys, heading for the square next to the drum tower in the city, his expression calm. The Qinhuai River was full that night, and although the weather was freezing, the sound of flutes and drums from the painted boats continued. The brothels and taverns along the street all hung lanterns with bright corners. There were thousands of them on one street, illuminating it like daylight.

It was a dark night, and the half-moon in the sky was dimmed by the lights.

The intermittent sound of a flute came from somewhere, sad and gentle, touching the heart.

Compared with the pedestrians on the street, Feng Xinglie seems to be a person living in another world, because he is about to face the separation from the mentor who raised him since childhood.

Feng Xinglie walked forward and suddenly heard crying and shouting. He saw a team of guards who were as fierce as wolves and tigers, escorting a group of men, women, old and young, with their hands and feet tied with iron chains. There were more than a hundred people walking by. The scene was gloomy and sad, which made people feel sad.

Feng Xinglie's heart was filled with agitation and he felt extremely disgusted. He just wanted to get away from this place immediately. He couldn't bear to witness Zhu Yuanzhang's large-scale search and genocide operation to exterminate the remnants of the Tianming Sect.

There is no greater tragedy in the world than this.

But he knew very well in his heart that if the Tianming Sect really took control of the court, more people would die and the situation in the world would become even more unpredictable.

By then, who can tell whether it is black or white?

But it is unbearable that such harm has come to the elderly, women and children.

He shook his head and breathed a sigh of relief, letting out the resentment in his heart, and looked at the destination from afar.

A magnificent pavilion stands majestically on a high hill, divided into two parts, the lower part is like an arched city gate, with three gates and walls, and red walls on all four sides. On the walls stands a palace-style wooden building with a double-eaved hip roof, with flying eaves, carved beams and painted buildings, elegant and magnificent, and under the dim and hazy moonlight, it has a mysterious and extraordinary momentum.

Feng Xinglie put away his anxiety because he was about to meet his mentor.

"Master!"

Looking at the figure on the drum tower, Feng Xinglie said respectfully.

On top of the Drum Tower, the majestic figure in white, as tall as a mountain, stood with his back to him and his hands behind his back, his body straight as a gun.

The man turned slowly.

In a flawlessly handsome face, there were a pair of eyes brighter than the gems sparkling in the dark ocean. He said calmly, "Xinglie, you're here!"

Feng Xinglie's mind flashed back to the times when Li Ruohai had given him strict training since he was young, and thinking of the shocking battle he was about to have with the two men, he was moved and knelt down automatically, kowtowed three times.

Li Ruohai stepped forward to accept the salute, his face expressionless, making it hard to tell whether he was happy or angry.

"I have a feeling that no matter whether we win or lose this battle, this will be our last chance to talk as master and disciple!"

"Master, could it be that..."

Feng Xinglie was shocked and his expression changed.

"Don't think too much. Ever since I combined the Lioyuan Qi and the Wedding Dress Magic Skill, my cultivation has reached a great level. Even someone as strong as Pang Ban can't easily defeat me!"

As if he saw what Feng Xinglie was thinking, Li Ruohai said calmly.

"That……"

Feng Xinglie seemed confused.

"Take it!"

A red gun suddenly appeared in Li Ruohai's palm.

"Master?"

Looking at this scene, Feng Xinglie couldn't help but tremble.

"I gave my natal red spear to Pang Ban as a declaration of war. This red spear was then made by me personally in half a month!
In the future, not only will my Liaoyuan Spear Skills be handed over to you, but also the Xieyi Sect!"

Looking at Feng Xinglie in front of him, Li Ruohai's tone seemed to soften.

At this moment, he seemed to remember his younger brother who had been separated from him for a long time when he was young. In his eyes, the shadow of Feng Xinglie had gradually overlapped with that of his former younger brother.

"I've met the sect master!"

Soon, he saw a man in his fifties, short and fat, with a smile on his face. He was none other than Shang Liang, one of the four guardians of Xieyi Sect, who was known as the "smiling dagger behind a dark back".

"Master!"

Seeing Shang Liang appear, Feng Xinglie was even more touched.

At this moment, how could Feng Xinglie not understand that his master had already made arrangements and was just waiting for him to come.

On the night of the full moon, at the top of the Forbidden City, after that battle, perhaps the master and disciple will have to part ways here!
(End of this chapter)