Since ancient times, it could be said that the jianghu has never known peace. Most of the martial world's heroes are consumed by the pursuit of fame and fortune, often harboring grudges and slaughtering one another over the most trivial matters. Disputes and conflicts within the jianghu occur almost constantly, without a single moment of respite.
Those who walk the paths of the jianghu must live with danger lurking around them every day, their life and death unpredictable. Whenever disputes arise among the figures and factions of the martial world, they resort to force to resolve them, sometimes leading to bloody battles where heads roll and blood flows.
The heroes of the martial world are divided only into the Black and White paths, rather than strictly distinguished as righteous or evil. The boundary between righteousness and evil is highly blurred. Within the Black Path, there are still righteous individuals, just as within the White Path, there are still wicked souls. A person's character can only be judged by their actions.
Currently, the martial world is dominated by nine major sects, collectively known as the Nine Great Sects: Shaolin, Wudang, Kunlun, Emei, Kongtong, Diancang, Qingcheng, Tianshan, and the Beggar Clan. One monk, one nun, three Taoists, three laymen, and one beggar. The heroes of all paths are accustomed to viewing the Nine Great Sects as the orthodox sects, with Shaolin Temple regarded as the Mount Tai and North Star of the martial world.
Yet, within the martial world, there are also four great figures of peerless martial arts who act entirely according to their own whims, heedless of good and evil, and regardless of righteousness and heresy. They are collectively known as the Four Great Devil Kings.
The Four Great Devil Kings consist of the Hongfa Devil King, the Heisha Devil King, the Aotian Devil King, and the Baidu Devil King. This ranking is not based on their martial arts prowess, for the Four Great Devil Kings have sparred many times to compete for the title of the Number One Expert of the Martial World, yet they have never been able to determine who is superior.
The reason for this ranking is simply because the Hongfa Devil King and the Heisha Devil King are inherently bloodthirsty and cruel, killing people like flies and acting with unimaginable brutality, striking terror into the hearts of the martial world's heroes, which places them at the top. On the other hand, although the Baidu Devil King is highly skilled in using poison, his nature is gentle; he rarely kills, and as long as his opponents kowtow and beg for mercy, their lives will be spared, placing him at the very bottom. Thus, there is a saying:
"Meeting Hong or Hei brings certain death,
Encountering Baidu brings peace of mind."
For the people of the world have always clung to life and feared death since time immemorial.
At that time, a legend was circulating in the jianghu: "The Luling Swordsman, a senior figure whose chivalrous fame resounded throughout the martial world a hundred years ago, left behind a sheepskin map upon his death that points to his place of seclusion. Hidden there is an incredibly powerful martial arts manual; whoever masters it can become the number one figure in the jianghu."
This aroused the greed of countless people. Almost every figure in the martial world, regardless of whether they were righteous, evil, or demonic, yearned for the day the secret manual would fall into their hands.
After many fierce struggles, that sheepskin map was torn into eight pieces and scattered far and wide. According to rumor, whoever could find all eight pieces and piece them together would be able to reach the Luling Swordsman's place of seclusion and obtain the Luling Sword Manual, an ultimate technique of the martial world.
Thus, those eight pieces of sheepskin stirred up a violent storm in the martial world. The heroes vied with one another to hunt them down, and once the Four Great Devil Kings joined the fray, it was only natural that corpses littered the fields and blood flowed like rivers.
In Jinling City, the Yang Family Manor, situated beside the Yangtze River, belonged to a wealthy family that had always minded its own business, having no connection to the martial world. Yet, simply because of a piece of sheepskin they accidentally found, they were ensnared in disaster.
That night, around midnight, the landscape was peaceful and still. Like the surrounding countryside, the Yang Family Manor lay nestled in quiet slumber, when suddenly, a storm erupted out of nowhere.
At that moment, a masked man in black, moving like a specter of the night, suddenly stormed into the Yang Family Manor and unleashed a brutal massacre. He slaughtered everyone present, sparing no one—men, women, young, old, servants, and maids alike. After the carnage, he ransacked the estate, searching everywhere from the rooms to the gardens, even tearing up the brick flooring to find something.
Unable to find what he was looking for despite his relentless search, he was finally forced to leave in bitter frustration.
Inside the manor, corpses lay strewn everywhere, leaving behind a scene of chaotic devastation.
Fortunately, there was a single survivor—a boy of about thirteen or fourteen. In the chaos of the black-clothed fiend's onslaught, a falling roof tile had struck the boy's head, knocking him unconscious. Believing the boy was already dead, the killer ignored him, allowing him to escape with his life.
Time passed in silence...
The boy gradually regained consciousness. Looking around at the devastation, he ran over to embrace a blood-drenched body, weeping bitterly:
"Father... Father..."
Faced with his home destroyed and family ruined, a young boy who had not yet reached adulthood and knew nothing of the world could do nothing but weep and weep...
But Heaven does not abandon the innocent. Amidst this tragic scene, another stroke of fortune came to the boy.
Just then, an old Taoist priest, hearing a child's cries from afar, rushed over. The priest was in his sixties, with a ruddy complexion, snow-white hair and beard, and a sage-like, transcendent bearing. Taking in the chaotic scene, the old Taoist stepped forward, took the boy into his arms, and asked gently:
"Child, what happened here?"
The old Taoist's gentle demeanor comforted the boy. Weeping, he stammered out what he had just experienced. Though the story was disjointed, the priest understood what had happened. He asked kindly:
"What is your name, child?"
The boy replied through his tears:
"My... my name is Yang Lin."
The old Taoist looked at the boy for a moment, then sighed and said:
"It seems I must take you with me now. Would you like to take me as your master?"
Overjoyed, the boy quickly knelt and bowed to the old Taoist, calling out:
"Master!"
The old Taoist helped the boy up, then took his small hand and led him inside to inspect the house. Belongings were strewn about in disarray, but the gold, silver, and other valuables remained untouched. Clearly, this was not a robbery.
After looking around, the old Taoist shook his head and sighed. He then told Yang Lin to gather the gold and silver into a bag to carry with him. Suddenly, he noticed the necklace around the boy's neck, which held a piece of sheepskin, and let out a gasp of surprise. Yang Lin asked in confusion:
"Master, what is it?"
The old Taoist pointed to the sheepskin and said:
"The killer who slaughtered your family did so because of this sheepskin."
Upon hearing this, Yang Lin immediately ripped the sheepskin from his neck and threw it away. Seeing this, the old Taoist asked in surprise:
"This is a highly precious object that countless people desire. Why did you throw it away?"
Yang Lin said:
"Master, we shouldn't carry such a dangerous thing with us."
The old Taoist bent down to pick it up, placed it back around the boy's neck, and said affectionately:
"Now that you are my disciple, who would dare bully you? There is nothing to fear."
Yang Lin took the sheepskin and placed it in the old Taoist's hand, saying:
"Perhaps you should keep it, Master."
The old Taoist nodded, then led the boy away. As the boy left the manor, his eyes welled with tears. Soon, their figures faded into the morning mist.
It was the third lunar month...
In the Jiangnan region, fresh green grass stretched to the horizon. Orioles chirped merrily upon the branches, and the lush trees looked as though they had donned brand-new robes of vibrant green.
The morning sun slowly climbed higher in the sky.
Outside the Qinxian Gate of Nanchang Prefecture, the flow of passersby was as dense as a weaving shuttle, vastly different from ordinary days. People jostled shoulder to shoulder in a bustling, lively crowd.
Suddenly, a cloud of dust billowed up from the official highway in the distance, out of which emerged three riders galloping like the wind.
Seeing the crowded road ahead, the three riders let out soft exclamations of surprise and pulled back their reins. Suddenly reined in mid-gallop, the three fine steeds let out long whinnying cries, rearing up on their hind legs and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
Yet the three riders remained perfectly steady in their saddles, their expressions calm and unruffled, clearly possessing formidable martial skills.
Two of them were middle-aged. One resembled a merchant—short, stout, and pot-bellied, dressed in a green brocade robe. The other was tall and thin, clad in a blue robe. The third was a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with sharp, sword-like eyebrows slanting toward his temples, bright eyes, a fair complexion, and dressed in an elegant silk robe, looking exceptionally handsome.
Just as they halted, someone in the crowd gasped in recognition and quickly stepped forward, clasping his hands in greeting:
"May I ask if you three heroes are the Hanzhong Three Heroes, whose illustrious names resound throughout the martial world? And are you currently heading to Huanghua Manor?"
The three riders were indeed the Hanzhong Three Heroes, who enjoyed a formidable reputation within the orthodox sects of the martial world. The merchant-like man, the eldest of the three, went by the moniker of "Golden Hook" Qin Hanfeng. He clasped his hands in return and spoke:
"Indeed, we are. I am Qin Hanfeng, and these are my two sworn brothers, Yang Huainan and Long Mingyi. May I ask who you might be?"
The man replied respectfully:
"I am merely a servant of Huanghua Manor. If you three heroes are heading to our humble manor, please allow me to lead the way."
Qin Hanfeng nodded and said:
"Then we shall trouble you."
The man said deferentially:
"You are far too polite."
With that, he turned and parted the crowd to clear a path. The Hanzhong Three Heroes nudged their horses forward, slowly following him toward Huanghua Manor.
After riding for some time, they arrived at a vast, sprawling manor. The servant escorted the three men to the guest hall and immediately hurried inside to report their arrival.
Moments later, a tall, imposing elderly man hurried out. He was the master of Huanghua Manor, the renowned "Nanchang Swordsman" Huang Tai. A prominent figure in Jiangxi, he possessed superb martial arts and enjoyed an illustrious reputation that commanded respect from both the orthodox and unorthodox paths of the martial world. Over the years, Huang Tai had maintained a close, deep friendship with the Hanzhong Three Heroes during their travels in the martial world.
The Hanzhong Three Heroes rose in unison to greet him. "Golden Hook" Qin Hanfeng spoke first:
"Brother Huang, we rushed here as soon as we heard you received a challenge letter from the Aotian Demon King. What exactly is going on?"
The Nanchang Swordsman gestured for the three to sit, then let out a long sigh and said:
"I feel deeply apologetic for causing you three worthy brothers such trouble over this matter."
Qin Hanfeng quickly cut in:
"Why do you speak so distantly, Brother? We are as close as brothers. Your business is our business. Please, tell us the details so we can devise a plan together. Have you somehow offended that old demon?"
The Nanchang Swordsman shook his head.
“People of the martial world can’t avoid those old devils fast enough, let alone dare to offend them.”
Qin Hanfeng asked,
“Then why did he challenge you? Surely he isn't just looking for trouble without reason?”
The Nanchang Swordsman said,
“I do not know what his true intentions are. But he sent a letter demanding that I hand over the Caihong Sword.”
Qin Hanfeng frowned and said,
“Your reputation is tied to the Caihong Sword. If you lose that treasured sword... what is left of the Nanchang Swordsman? He is truly going too far.”
The Nanchang Swordsman forced a smile,
“But who has ever said those old devils play by the rules of the martial world? If they did, they wouldn't be ranked among the Four Great Demon Kings.”
Everyone fell silent for a moment, their faces tense. After a long pause, Qin Hanfeng asked again,
“So, what do you plan to do, Brother?”
The Nanchang Swordsman sighed,
“I do not know what to do either. Since things have come to this, I suppose when the time comes, I will just have to risk my life against that old devil.”
Qin Hanfeng asked further,
“What time does the letter specify for the meeting?”
The Nanchang Swordsman replied,
“He said he would come to take the sword at the third watch tonight.”
The Fair-faced Gentleman, Long Mingyi, young and competitive, said heatedly,
“On what grounds does that old devil dare demand Brother Huang hand over his treasured sword? This is outrageous!”
The Nanchang Swordsman gave a bitter smile and said,
“Relying solely on the fearsome reputation of the Four Great Demon Kings is already more than enough.”
Long Mingyi asked,
“Is it possible that even with the combined strength of the four of us, we still cannot defeat him?”
Only now did the Iron Sword, Yang Huainan, speak up:
“Third Brother, do not be rash. The fearsome reputation of the Four Great Demon Kings did not come from nowhere. If we want to deal with him, we must plan carefully.”
Qin Hanfeng asked,
“In your opinion, Second Brother, what should we do?”
Yang Huainan did not answer Qin's question directly. He pondered for a moment before asking in return,
“Big Brother, try to estimate. If the four of us join forces to fight him, how long can we hold out against that old devil?”
Qin Hanfeng looked at the Nanchang Swordsman and asked,
“What do you think, Brother?”
The Nanchang Swordsman said,
“In my estimation, we might be able to hold out for a hundred moves. What do you think, brothers?”
Qin Hanfeng nodded and said,
“I think so too.”
Yang Huainan said,
“If that is the case, we will try to find a way to goad that old devil into a wager of a hundred moves. With his arrogant nature, he probably won't refuse.”
While the Nanchang Swordsman and the others were nodding in agreement, they suddenly heard a laugh echoing from the garden outside:
“You gentlemen underestimate Elder Leng far too much.”
Startled and alarmed, the group leaped through the window and scanned the garden. Only then did they spot a handsome and elegant young scholar dressed in green, about twenty-one or twenty-two years old. Holding a wine flask in one hand and a jade cup in the other, he sat leisurely drinking in a small pavilion in the middle of the garden. Given their martial arts prowess as top-tier masters of the martial world, the fact that they had not noticed when he entered left them all deeply shaken.
As the host, the Nanchang Swordsman cupped his hands and asked,
– I wouldn’t dare. I heard that you gentlemen have an appointment with the Ao Tian Demon King today, so I came specifically to witness it and broaden my horizons.
Qin Hanfeng asked again:
– What did you mean by your words just now, young hero?
The young scholar smiled and said:
– Nothing at all. I was just speaking in jest.
Looking over the four of them, he added:
– I wouldn't dare interfere in your private affairs. I only hope Villa Master Huang will allow me to sit here, drink wine, and admire the flowers.
The Nanchang Swordsman hurriedly said:
– You are too polite. Please make yourself at home, young hero. We have matters to attend to and cannot keep you company, so please excuse us.
With that, the four of them returned to the main hall to continue discussing their strategy. Afterward, they circulated their qi to regulate their breathing, waiting for their third-watch appointment.
Since the Ao Tian Demon King possessed peerless martial arts that ordinary people could not hope to match, they did not organize any patrols to avoid involving the servants. With the Ao Tian Demon King's invincible prowess, any guards would have been useless anyway.
Time slowly passed...
Darkness gradually cast its deep black veil over the mortal realm, shrouding everything in pitch black.
Huanghua Villa was brightly lit with torches on all sides. Inside the spacious main hall, the brothers of the Hanzhong Three Heroes and the Nanchang Swordsman sat chatting, their expressions somewhat grave.
In a situation akin to waiting for the Grim Reaper's visit, it was hard for anyone not to feel anxious. In their uneasy state, they could not calm their minds to regulate their breathing, so they could only chat to pass the time.
The drums had just struck the third watch...
Amidst the silence of the dark night, a long howl suddenly echoed from afar, carrying a powerful inner force that shook the entire area.
The lamplight flickered, on the verge of going out. The walls shook as if about to collapse. The ground trembled and swayed.
Knowing the old demon was about to arrive, the Nanchang Swordsman and his companions quickly heightened their vigilance.
As soon as the howl died down, a yellow shadow flickered, and an old man appeared in the main hall. He had a tall stature, a square face with a broad forehead, a qilin nose and dragon whiskers, and a majestic, imposing bearing. Clad in a yellow robe, he was none other than the Ao Tian Demon King, Leng Xiaotian, one of the Four Great Demon Kings.
The old demon swept his gaze over the four of them. His eyes shone as bright as lightning, and his attitude was like that of a butcher sizing up a herd of livestock, calculating which one was the fattest to slaughter first. Despite having braced themselves, the Nanchang Swordsman and his companions could not help but shudder under that terrifying gaze.
After a moment, the old demon asked in a deep voice:
– Where is the sword?
Iron Sword Yang Huainan spoke up:
– May I ask, Senior...
The Ao Tian Demon King interrupted:
– No need for tedious words. Hand over the Caihong Sword immediately. This old man only wants the sword, not your lives.
Yang Huainan asked:
– Senior, your divine skills are matchless under heaven. Why do you still need a treasured sword?
The Ao Tian Demon King said:
– That is my private business. But there is no harm in telling you. Soon, the Four Great Demon Kings will gather to compete again. This old man has no weapon, which puts me at a disadvantage. I need a treasured sword to counter that old Baiduchong's Lantian Poison Sword.
Yang Huainan said:
– The Caihong Sword is the famous weapon of the Nanchang Swordsman; since ancient times, the wielder and the sword have always been inseparable. If we were to simply hand it over, how could we brothers ever show our faces in the jianghu again?
The Ao Tian Demon King barked:
– So you refuse to hand it over?
Long Mingyi chimed in:
– If you can defeat us brothers, you may take the sword.
The Ao Tian Demon King laughed heartily and said:
"Good. To save time, all of you should attack together."
Yang Huainan said, "Senior, your divine martial arts are matchless, and your fame echoes throughout the world. We brothers are but latecomers with meager skills and dare not compare ourselves to you. Thus, we would like to make a proposal."
Ao Tian Demon King laughed arrogantly, "Speak."
Yang Mingde said, "This is not a life-and-death struggle. I propose a limit of one hundred moves."
Ao Tian Demon King sneered, "There is no need for a hundred moves; that would be a waste of time. If you are not defeated within fifty moves and can still hold onto your weapons, this old man will no longer require the Caihong Sword."
This turn of events exceeded their initial expectations. The Nanchang Swordsman and his companions felt a surge of hope in their hearts. Suddenly, the old demon turned his gaze toward the garden and asked, "Are you not with them?"
He was addressing the green-robed scholar sitting in the garden. The young man replied with a smile, "Your nephew is only here to watch and would not dare interfere in Uncle Leng's personal affairs. I only hope Uncle Leng keeps his promise to them."
Ao Tian Demon King frowned and asked, "You are..."
The scholar raised his hand and gently traced a circle in the air, resembling a Bagua diagram. The Nanchang Swordsman's group did not understand what the gesture symbolized, but Ao Tian Demon King recognized it instantly. He nodded, then turned back to the Nanchang Swordsman and his companions, saying, "Make your move."
Knowing they had to fight sooner or later, the Nanchang Swordsman cupped his hands and said, "In that case, please forgive our rudeness."
As soon as the words left his mouth, one hook and three swords swept forward simultaneously like a whirlwind, aiming to seize the initiative. They were all seasoned veterans of the Jianghu, well aware of the saying, "He who strikes first gains the upper hand." The four of them shared a seamless understanding, their coordination as fluid as flowing water and drifting clouds, making it seem impossible for their opponent to escape.
However, Ao Tian Demon King was no ordinary foe. With ghostly movement techniques, the old demon vanished in an instant amidst the flurry of sword shadows. He burst into a loud laugh, deliberately flaunting his divine might. Utilizing his supreme movement techniques, his figure darted back and forth within the encirclement of the four martial arts masters, without a single flash of sword light so much as brushing the hem of his robe.
Move after move passed quickly...
More than thirty moves had gone by, yet the old demon had still not launched a single counterattack.
Suddenly, the Nanchang Swordsman let out a roar like a dragon's cry and unleashed the "One Sword to Shake the Heavens" technique, slashing toward the old demon as a vast expanse of sword light spread in all directions. He rarely used this ultimate technique. It was his signature skill, a wave of sword light aimed directly at his opponent's three major acupoints: Tianxi, Shencang, and Xuanji.
Seeing this, the Three Heroes of Hanzhong immediately swung their weapons to attack the old demon from behind. The four of them joined forces, their combined momentum like heaven collapsing and earth shattering.
The situation grew incredibly tense.
The old demon let out a howl like a dragon's roar. Both of his hands struck out simultaneously. Palm winds and sword shadows surged, enveloping the entire area, followed immediately by clattering sounds and several muffled groans.
After the chaos, the main hall fell into an eerie silence.
Only the Three Heroes of Hanzhong and the Nanchang Swordsman remained in the hall, their faces pale, fresh blood trickling from the corners of their mouths. Their weapons lay scattered on the ground, but the Caihong Sword had vanished along with the old demon. The green-robed scholar was also gone from the garden.
The atmosphere was heavy. Silence reigned all around.
Only after a long while did Qin Hanfeng let out a sorrowful sigh, "With the Four Great Demon Kings beginning their struggle for supremacy, I fear the martial world is headed for great chaos."
Atop the absolute summit of Xianren Peak, a place so steep even monkeys and apes struggled to climb, four bizarre and extraordinary figures were currently gathered.
One was a freak dressed in a scarlet robe, with a face as hideous as a demon's—bulging eyes, an upturned nose, and a wide mouth as red as a basin of blood. Most striking of all was his disheveled hair, which was not black but a fiery red. His entire being was shrouded in a terrifying crimson.
Another was a Taoist priest with a ruddy complexion and snow-white hair and beard. Clad in a Taoist robe, he possessed the transcendent air of an immortal sage.
The third was a burly man in black robes, with tiger eyes, sword eyebrows, and a short beard framing his chin. His fierce countenance radiated an intimidating, formidable majesty.
And the final figure was an old man in a yellow robe, none other than Aotian Devil King Leng Xiaotian. The other three were Red-Haired Devil King Xuanyuan Lie, Hundred Poisons Devil King Qiu Yongshou, and Black Fiend Devil King Song Dacheng.
This time, the Four Great Devil Kings had gathered on Xianren Peak under the pretext of a martial duel, but in truth, they were here to fight for the map leading to the secluded residence of the Luling Swordsman, a legendary figure of illustrious fame from a hundred years ago. The map was drawn on a piece of sheepskin and had been torn into eight pieces. Currently, each of the Four Great Devil Kings possessed two pieces, and they had agreed to a duel to win sole ownership of all eight pieces of the map.
All four sat silently in four different directions, their eyes fixed on the boulder in the center, upon which lay the eight pieces of sheepskin. None dared to make the first move, for doing so would naturally make them the common enemy of the other three.
A long silence hung in the air...
About half an hour later, the Red-Haired Devil King could bear it no longer and spoke first:
“Are we really going to just sit here and stare at each other forever?”
Aotian Devil King countered:
“Then what do you propose we do?”
Red-Haired Devil King replied:
“Duel to claim the treasure.”
Black Fiend Devil King agreed:
“Sounds good. Hey, old Aotian Lei. I heard you recently acquired the Caihong Sword, so you shall duel that old Hundred Poison Bug. As for this seat, I will fight the old Red-Haired Devil. Any objections?”
Aotian Devil King nodded and said:
“Indeed. Old Hundred Poison Bug, come over here and let's play for a bit.”
The old Taoist, the Hundred Poisons Devil King, cleared his throat and spoke:
“Others might fear you, Aotian Lei, but I don't think anything of you.”
With that, his figure flashed and vanished, leaving only two streaks of light—one green and one yellow—dancing in midair like flowing water and drifting clouds. On the other side, the remaining two old devils had also begun their clash.
Across the battlefield, sand flew and rocks hurtled through the air as a violent gale rose with a roar like thunder.
A thousand moves passed...
Yet, as the martial arts of the Four Great Devil Kings were evenly matched, the situation remained as it always did—the battle was a deadlock, with neither side gaining the upper hand.
Nevertheless, for the sake of the treasure, the fight raged on...
Past two thousand moves...
With the aid of the Caihong Sword, Aotian Devil King was like a tiger with wings, gradually gaining the upper hand. Meanwhile, the duel between the Red-Haired Devil King and the Black Fiend Devil King remained deadlocked.
The Red-Haired Devil King stole a glance at Aotian Devil King's fight. Instantly growing anxious, he leaped out of the combat circle and rushed toward the boulder holding the map.
Seeing the sudden turn of events, the other three devils immediately halted their battles and unleashed their palms directly at the Red-Haired Devil King, determined not to let him snatch the prize from under their noses.
The combined palm force of the three devils was incredibly formidable, carrying a momentum powerful enough to shatter stone and steel.
Sensing the mortal danger, the Red-Haired Devil King swiftly shifted his steps to dodge. The three surging waves of palm force unleashed by the trio crashed past, collapsing the entire cliffside. Soon, the four figures clashed in a chaotic melee, trading palm strikes as flying sand and hurtling rocks obscured the heavens and the earth.
A moment later, once the tempest had subsided, the area fell silent, and not a soul remained.