Every winter, the plum blossoms bloom, standing alongside the pine and bamboo as the "Three Friends of Winter," symbolizing steadfastness and resilience. The plum blossoms bloom before all other flowers, leading the charge of spring, standing proud in the cold. Their red and white petals dot the branches, exuding a fragrance that pierces the winter air, as if inscribing a lofty poem on the icy landscape. This secret plum blossom paradise is already world-famous, and every winter, scholars, poets, and martial artists come here to walk through the snow and admire the flowers, experiencing the serenity and elegance that seem to transcend the mundane world.
At this moment, Wu Tong and his companions strolled through the plum blossom forest, with snowflakes drifting gently and the fragrance of the blossoms filling the air, soothing their hearts and minds. The four of them walked lightly on the thick snow, almost as though they had become one with the land and the sky. As they were immersed in the beauty of the scene, they suddenly passed by a concealed cave, and faint voices from within caught their attention. Intrigued, they exchanged glances and decided to investigate.
Entering the cave, it began narrow but gradually opened up into a vast chamber, an enormous cavern several dozen paces wide and ten paces long. The ceiling had a natural gap, through which sunlight poured in, casting light on the stalactites within, creating a magical interplay of light and shadow—like a fairyland. The sight was astonishing, and the air was filled with an otherworldly atmosphere.
However, the sight within the cave made the group feel uneasy. There, four people were facing each other in a tense standoff. One was an immortal cultivator, an elderly man with a white beard, yet his spirit was sharp and his eyes clear as a spring. His name was Xuan Zhen, and he had lived in seclusion in this plum blossom village for many years, devoted to cultivating the Dao, detached from worldly affairs. The other three, however, seemed out of place. One was a man in his seventies, bald on top with only a few strands of white hair left on his sides. His face was ferocious, and his eyes were filled with a malicious glint. The other two were imposing figures, muscular and towering, with hawk-like eyes and fierce expressions that clearly signaled they were not good people.
Xuan Zhen remained calm, his tone gentle yet authoritative, speaking slowly, "Mo Lao Xian, if you were truly a person of honor, I would willingly offer you the centipede medicinal wine, no matter how precious it is. However, since you harbor ill intentions, this medicine must not fall into your hands."
The old man called "Mo Lao Xian"—his real name was Mo Di—was a notorious villain in the martial world. He dealt in dishonest trades, using ruthless methods, and was responsible for countless evils. Today, he had teamed up with the "Li Mountain Two Fiends"—Li Fang, the leader, and Lu Yuan, the second-in-command—to steal the centipede medicinal wine brewed by Xuan Zhen. This medicinal wine was a rare treasure, capable of treating internal injuries, removing toxins, and improving martial arts power for practitioners who took it, increasing their strength by up to five years, depending on their internal energy. As such, it was highly coveted by people in the martial world.
Mo Di sneered, his voice harsh and grating like a broken gong, "Old Daoist Xuan Zhen, stop acting so high and mighty! Today, whether you want to or not, you will hand over the centipede medicinal wine. Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!" The Li Mountain Two Fiends behind him cracked their knuckles, their eyes full of malice, clearly preparing to take the wine by force.
Xuan Zhen remained serene, his gaze as deep as a quiet pond, and said slowly, "I have lived in seclusion for many years and have no desire to fight with others. But if you insist on forcing my hand, I will have no choice but to protect this medicine with the Dao, and ensure it does not fall into the hands of evil-doers."
The atmosphere in the cave grew tense, the air crackling with impending violence. Wu Tong and his companions hid in the shadows, watching the confrontation unfold. They understood that this was not just a fight over medicinal wine, but a battle between righteousness and evil. Should they intervene?
Mo Lao Xian sneered again, saying, "I just tested the waters and found that our strength is about the same. How about we both step back and leave the centipede medicinal wine? Then, we can part ways without further conflict." In the martial world, such men survived by their wits and strength, and when both sides got what they wanted, they could go their separate ways peacefully.
Xuan Zhen's eyes narrowed, and he replied, "Mo Lao Xian, if you want my treasure, you must earn it with your skill. Do not think that just because you've brought the Li Mountain Two Fiends with you, you can take it from me."
The Li Mountain Two Fiends' eyes flashed with a cold light. Li Fang, the older of the two, said in a sinister tone, "Old Daoist, be sensible. The centipede medicinal wine will only get better with age. If you hand it over today, you can live out your days in peace, cultivating the Dao and becoming immortal. Otherwise..."
Xuan Zhen's face hardened. "You've gone too far. I will not stand by and let you take what is rightfully mine! You know full well that the centipede medicinal wine requires three centipedes caught in the icy cold to be used as ingredients. It must be soaked for five years to reach its full potential, enhancing the healing and strengthening properties. If you had any sense, you would not desecrate such a treasure."
Mo Lao Xian sneered once more, saying, "We've been patient and kind enough, but you insist on being difficult!" Just then, Zhao Rou leapt into the cave and said, "Daoist, how much are you selling this centipede medicinal wine for?"
Mo Lao Xian, the Li Mountain Two Fiends, and Xuan Zhen all froze. Someone had entered the cave unexpectedly. Wu Tong and the others quickly followed and appeared, with Wu Tong saying, "Daoist, these three are opportunistic thieves. They seek to gain a fortune at your expense. If you cannot escape, why not name your price? If I can afford it, I'll buy the medicine, and we can avoid further conflict."
Xuan Zhen, seeing Wu Tong and his companions, was taken aback at first, but upon seeing their dignified and noble appearance, he immediately understood they were righteous individuals. He quickly thought and then said, "The centipede medicinal wine is not for sale, but seeing you are all virtuous people, I will offer it for a low price. Two hundred taels of silver."
Xuan Zhen wasn't motivated by greed; the medicinal wine was truly worth that much. Wu Tong took out a stack of silver notes from his chest, quickly pulling out two notes of two hundred taels each and said, "Daoist, please take a look at these. If they're fine, I'll buy the wine from you!" He showed the notes to Mo Lao Xian and the Li Mountain Two Fiends.
Mo Lao Xian and the Li Mountain Two Fiends stared at the silver notes in astonishment. The young man before them was incredibly wealthy, taking out a stack of silver without blinking an eye, exuding confidence. Mo Lao Xian sneered coldly, "Young hero, it's good to have money, but remember, when traveling the martial world, one should mind their own business. If you interfere here, you might lose both money and life."
Li Fang, seeing the three beautiful women with Wu Tong, smirked maliciously, "That's right. A rich young man wandering the mountains is one thing, but today, you've stepped into something dangerous. What a pity for the three beautiful ladies beside you."
Lu Yuan, looking at the three women, grinned in a way that was both lecherous and sinister, "We're going to make a big score today—kill the man, and each of us can have one of the beauties." Their words were filled with brutal intent, a stark reminder of the savage nature of bandits in the martial world. Liu Yun, disdainful, replied, "Three bandits with no real skill? What can they do?"
Li Fang revealed an obscene grin, "Miss, I may not have great skills, but when it comes to certain... skills, I'm quite capable!"
Liu Yun's face turned red with anger, "You shameless pervert, you're asking for death!"