“Secondly, that male Flying Zombie, his physique is at least at the peak of the Martial Masters Realm. Ordinary swords and sabers can hardly harm him. Moreover, he wields a firewood knife which, at first glance, seems unremarkable, but it possesses a very peculiar ability: no matter what it is, if it is struck by his blade seven times, it will undoubtedly break. However, the weakness is that after each strike, he must pause for several breaths before he can continue to swing his blade, and during this interval, if the object of his attack successfully counterattacks, he must start over from the first strike.”

“Over the years, it is by relying on the various methods mentioned above that we have rescued many cultivators trapped within the pavilion.”

“Additionally, there are three major taboos when dealing with these two ghosts.”

“First, never laugh in front of the two of them. If you laugh, these two Flying Zombies will surely go mad, and their ferocity will be far greater than usual.”

“Second, never make a move when the two Flying Zombies are together. There were once five cultivators, all at the Martial Masters Realm and Qi Refining cultivators at the peak of the Gazing Abyss Realm, who joined forces to ambush these two ghosts, but they were killed by the combined efforts of the two ghosts, resulting in two deaths and three injuries. This is also why the Nine Mansions are reluctant to send many people to besiege them because once many experts gather, it will surely provoke the two ghosts to join forces.”

“Third, by climbing up from the eastern cliff of Hemp Mountain, one can bypass to the garden behind the courtyard of Listening Wind Pavilion, where the male Flying Zombie plants his flowers. If one only wishes to rescue someone, they may consider entering from this route. However, this path is perilous, with fierce winds howling on the cliff face, and should not be attempted by those whose martial cultivation is not at the level of a Martial Master.”

After reading the last line about Listening Wind Pavilion in this small booklet, Xu Taiping fell into deep thought.

After a while, he raised his head and murmured:

“If I can first use the white crystal chrysanthemums to attract the female Flying Zombie’s attention, and then try to offer the Dragon Gall Wine to the male Flying Zombie to buy time, perhaps I can really rescue Buyu successfully.”

Combining the contents of the Nine Mansions’ booklet, he already had a plan in mind.

“First, I’ll go pick some white crystal chrysanthemums.”

He immediately sprang into action.

Although Buyu had already been taken into the pavilion, according to the Nine Mansions’ booklet, the pair of Flying Zombies would not immediately use her for planting flowers. As long as he was quick enough, there was still time.

“Clang!”

Just as Xu Taiping was about to leave for the cliffside, five cultivators suddenly emerged silently from the forest and surrounded him with swords drawn.

These people clearly possessed treasures or Talisman Scrolls that concealed their presence.

Otherwise, Xu Taiping would have surely detected them.

“Fellow Daoists, what is the meaning of this?”

Xu Taiping rested one hand on the hilt of his saber and raised the other high, signaling that he had no hostile intentions.

“Which sect are you from?”

One of the five cultivators, a slender man with narrow eyes, stepped forward and looked at Xu Taiping with a smile.

“Qingxuan Sect.”

Xu Taiping thought for a moment and did not hide his affiliation.

“Qingxuan Sect?”

The three male and two female cultivators exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with disdain.

“Little brother from Qingxuan Sect, I am Zhou Xiyu from the Ancient Yue Sword Sect. Could it be that you are also here for the secret manuals and techniques of Listening Wind Pavilion?”

The slender man with narrow eyes continued to smile at Xu Taiping.

“I did not come for any secret manuals or techniques; I just happened to pass by.”

Xu Taiping shook his head.

“So, little brother, you are alone?”

Zhou Xiyu asked again.

“I suppose so.”

Xu Taiping could already guess some of Zhou Xiyu’s intentions for questioning him, but because he was worried that any commotion here would attract the attention of the two Flying Zombies inside the pavilion, he did not hide anything and simply observed quietly.

Upon hearing Xu Taiping’s response, the five people exchanged another smile.

“Little brother from Qingxuan Sect, Zhou has a presumptuous request. If you can agree to it, we will let you go soon.”

Zhou Xiyu still looked at Xu Taiping with a smile.

“What is it?”

Xu Taiping asked calmly.

Zhou Xiyu did not answer immediately but extended his hand to the side.

Then Xu Taiping saw a female disciple from the Ancient Yue Sword Sect hand over a bunch of white crystal chrysanthemums to Zhou Xiyu.

“I would like to ask you, little brother, to take this bunch of white crystal chrysanthemums and walk into that courtyard to lure out the female ghost inside.”

Zhou Xiyu smiled as he offered the bunch of white crystal chrysanthemums to Xu Taiping.

Xu Taiping did not take them but instead looked coldly at Zhou Xiyu and said:

“Brother Zhou, are you trying to send me to my death?”

His reaction made Zhou Xiyu and the other disciples behind him even more reassured.

“Kid, we are inside the Ruins of the Cloud Dream Marsh, where the Nine Mansions’ decree cannot control us. Do you want to die here, or would you prefer to die later inside the courtyard? You can choose one.”

A tall and glamorous female disciple pushed her long sword close to Xu Taiping’s neck, almost touching his Adam’s apple.

“Hey, Sister Sun, don’t scare the little brother.”

At this moment, Zhou Xiyu pretended to push Sister Sun’s sword away and then looked at Xu Taiping with a smile: “Little brother, according to the Nine Mansions’ secret manual, holding white crystal chrysanthemums and entering Listening Wind Pavilion will not provoke an attack from the female Flying Zombie. As for the male Flying Zombie, he rarely leaves the back garden, so you can go in with confidence.”

He deliberately omitted the fact that after the female Flying Zombie plucks the petals, she would eat the person who offered the flowers.

Glancing at the bunch of white crystal chrysanthemums in Zhou Xiyu’s hand and then at him and his fellow Senior Brothers and Sisters who were arrogant and seemed to have him figured out, Xu Taiping eventually made a decision and took the white crystal chrysanthemums.

“That’s more like it. From today on, little brother, you are a friend of the Ancient Yue Sword Sect.”

Zhou Xiyu patted Xu Taiping on the shoulder with a smile.

Hearing the word “friend,” Xu Taiping sneered inwardly: “I could never be friends with someone like you.”

“Wait.”

Just as he was about to take the white crystal chrysanthemums and enter the courtyard, the female disciple who had previously pointed her sword at him suddenly stepped in front of him and gestured with two fingers together:

“To prevent you from causing trouble, I need to seal your mute acupoint.”

Xu Taiping glared coldly at the female disciple.

“Little brother, it’s just sealing the mute acupoint, don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous.”

Zhou Xiyu stepped forward again to reassure Xu Taiping.

Pretending to ponder seriously, Xu Taiping finally nodded after a long while and said: “You may only seal my mute acupoint, otherwise, even if you kill me, I will not go in!”

Upon hearing this, Sister Sun exchanged another smile with Zhou Xiyu, then reluctantly nodded and said: “Fine, fine, I’ll just seal your mute acupoint.”

After saying that, she quickly tapped twice on Xu Taiping’s chest.

“Go on, don’t dawdle, you don’t act like a man at all!”

Sister Sun pushed Xu Taiping hard on the back.

Pretending to stumble, Xu Taiping turned back and glared at Sister Sun again before holding the white crystal chrysanthemums and walking into the front courtyard of Listening Wind Pavilion.

“Senior Brother, look at this Qingxuan Sect disciple, he really looks like a dog!”

Sister Sun watched Xu Taiping’s awkward figure and covered her mouth with a light laugh.

“Don’t look down on dogs; dogs have their uses too. Just like today, if we hadn’t come across this dog, we would have had to choose the person to carry the flowers from among you.”

Zhou Xiyu narrowed his eyes and looked at the others.

Upon hearing this, the other four disciples immediately fell silent as a cicada in winter.

…

“Boom~”

Upon entering the front courtyard of Listening Wind Pavilion and confirming that he was out of sight of the Ancient Yue Sword Sect disciples, Xu Taiping immediately found a concealed spot in the courtyard, cast a cloning spell, and handed the white crystal chrysanthemums to his clone.

“Go on.”

He patted his clone on the shoulder.

Xu Taiping, of course, would not be foolish enough to deliver the flowers himself.