Pang Tong and Yang Ji returned to the headquarters cottage. The congregants enter and report to the leader.

"Teacher Pang is back, please invite him in!"

After Pang Tong came in and sat down, the sect leader said, "There is something to discuss with the teacher. Just now, the Jiuyou Sect sent someone to send a marriage letter, saying that he wanted to marry with our sect, and from then on, he turned the conflict into a jade silk. I wonder what the teacher thinks?"

"Marriage?" Pang Tong took the marriage book and read it carefully.

"Yes, Huo You (the leader of the Nine Unitary Sect) wants me to marry Yu'er to his son. ”

Pang Tong took a sip of tea and asked, "What does the sect leader think?"

"I can't make up my mind, so I want to ask the teacher for you. ”

"If I were the sect leader, I would definitely refuse. ”

"Why? The marriage book makes it very clear that if you don't be a friend, you are an enemy. "Although the sect leader is not a timid person, he also does not want to make a fuss.

"There will be deception in this matter. Since ancient times, good and evil have not been opposed, and marriage is obviously a disguise, and the other party has other plans. If we agree, and the princess marries there, she will become a permanent hostage, and the other party will be free to make any demands on us, and if we refuse to marry, the other party will use this as an excuse to stir up new troubles. Maybe this is the real purpose of the Nine Unitary Sect, whether we agree or not, they will find an opportunity to make trouble. Therefore, no response can be made for the time being. ”

The sect leader said with deep understanding: "What the teacher said is very true, and I deeply feel the same way, but I don't dare to delay this matter for too long, so I have to give the other party an explanation." What should I do?"

Pang Tong thought for a moment and said, "In this case, I'll go back and discuss with the others, and give the sect leader an answer tomorrow morning." ”

"Well, that's fine. Meals are prepared outside, so let's go and eat first. ”

Pang Tong thanked the sect leader, and when he went to eat, he saw Yang Ji, and he didn't know how to talk about it for a while.

Yang Ji sensed that his expression was wrong, so he asked why. Pang Tong said: "The Nine Youjiao Sect is here again, this time it is not simple, it has a little to do with you." Let's talk about it again tonight. ”

That night, Pang Tong, Yang Ji, and Gongsun Jie were discussing in the room. Gongsun Jie is a good friend of Pang Tong and is about the same age as him.

Pang Tong told the two about the Jiuyou Sect's desire to marry, and both of them objected after hearing it, especially Yang Ji.

Pang Tong said: "It seems that we have the same view. The problem is that if they refuse, the Nine Unitary Sect will use this as an excuse to start a new war, which will harm the brothers in the sect, which is really difficult to do. ”

"Fight, fight, what are you afraid of! I would rather lose this old life than fight them to the death! Anyway, it's not once or twice!" Gongsun Jie was resolute.

"If you don't get married, you have to fight, what kind of logic is this? It's ridiculous, they're really tired of being alive!" Yang Ji was indignant, he thought, even if he couldn't marry the princess, he must not let her marry a bad person.

"It seems that the Nine Youjiao Sect has to fight this time. I thought about it for a long time, maybe there was only one way to protect the Tiangu Sect. Pang Tong said.

"What's the solution?" asked the two of them.

"Divert your gaze. Yang Ji, it's up to you now. Pang Tong patted him on the shoulder.

"What do you mean?" Yang was puzzled.

"Use your skills to steal the Blood Dragon Sword back!" Pang Tong said with a startling thought.

"Ah?!" Yang Ji and Gongsun Jie were startled at the same time.

"The Blood Dragon Sword is placed in their temple, as long as you go and steal it back, and then give them a wooden sword, insert a note in the tip of the sword, and falsely claim that it was Shanyue, then you can point the finger at the Yue Clan, and our Tiangu Sect can sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight. ”

"Can this trick work?" Yang Ji felt that this idea was too simplistic.

Pang Tong said this and this, and the two of them thought they could give it a try.

"Will anyone suspect that I did it?" Yang Ji was still worried.

"Probably not, the other party doesn't know that there is a thief in this sect, and few people even know about this cottage. ”

Yang Ji still has some concerns. Pang Tong said: "Don't worry, I will help you with the princess's affairs." Now the life and death of this religion is in your hands. ”

“...... So when am I going to act?"

"Act immediately after reporting to the Sect Master. ”

"But this sect has no grudge against Shanyue, will there be any adverse consequences if this is done?" Yang Ji was worried.

"Shanyue is Wu's enemy, and framing Shanyue is equivalent to helping Wu. It's okay, let's do it!" Pang Tong encouraged him.

"You're not going to miss, are you?" Gongsun Jie was a little worried.

"Don't worry, the Central Plains thief is not in vain. As long as it is beneficial to this religion, I will definitely do my best to do it!"

"If the plan succeeds, with the nature of the Nine Unitary Sect, this struggle is inevitable. Pang Tong said thoughtfully.

In fact, he wanted to take the opportunity to contain the main offensive force of the Yue people and reduce the worries of the Wu State to a certain extent. The Blood Dragon Sword is a sacred relic of the Nine Unitary Sect, and once it is stolen, it will arouse the indignation of all the cultists.

The next morning, Pang Tong met with the sect leader in private, told him about his plan, and said, "This matter must not be known to anyone except the four of us. Once the news leaks, the consequences are unimaginable. ”

The leader said, "I know that. The teacher's strategy is good, but the risk is still quite high. I wonder if Hoyu will suspect that my sect did it?"

"I don't think so. Huo You is brave and unscrupulous, not to mention that he has an old grudge with King Yue, he will definitely be fooled this time. ”

"Okay! The teacher is really resourceful!"

"Master, it's not too late to praise me after the deed is done. ”

In the afternoon of the same day, Yang Ji was ready to go. The sect leader specially prepared a strong drink for him to strengthen his courage.

"Remember, don't miss it, it's all up to you!" Gongsun Jie advised.

"I've said it a thousand times, and I'm not going to miss it. For the sake of this sect, I will definitely complete the task successfully!" Yang Ji said as he drank the spirits and swore an oath.

"Remember to do what you do, or you'll be in vain. Pang Tong reminded again.

"Don't worry, I won't come back if I can't complete the mission! I'm leaving. Yang Ji took the wooden sword and the provocation book written by Pang Tong in the tone of the Yue people (the book was stamped with the seal of the Yue people forged by Pang Tong), and set off by night.

Yang Ji advanced all the way and came straight to Heizheng Mountain, the headquarters of the Nine Unitary Sect. When he had entered the mountain, he tied his horse to a tree and quietly crept near the temple according to the instructions on the map given to him by Pang Tong.

This temple is dedicated to the Nine Unitary Sect to place holy relics and carry out various ceremonies, the façade of the building is strangely styled, and there are two patrolmen at the front and back gates, who are leaning against the wall and dozing. There are no special events these days, and no one dares to break into this place to steal under normal circumstances, so the temple is not strictly guarded.

Yang Ji used his skillful skills to bypass the patrolman's line of sight and enter the sacrificial hall through the side window. The light was dim, and he could see the sword in the middle of the hall, and a small golden statue beside it. Although he had never seen it before, he intuitively believed that this sword was the Blood Dragon Sword. There was also a temple keeper next to him, sitting drowsy in a wooden rocking chair.

He crept up to the temple keeper, took out the fire fold from his bosom, and blew forward. A stream of ecstasy incense wafted straight over.

The temple keeper smelled a strange smell, and wanted to get up to check what was going on, but before he could stand up, he was dragged away by Zhou Gong.

............

Worthy of being a thief in the Central Plains and a disciple of Zuo Ci's sect, Yang Ji really lived up to expectations, successfully stole the Blood Dragon Sword from the temple, and returned to the Tiangu Sect in the evening of the next day.

He came to the designated place, where the sect leader, Pang Tong, and Gongsun Jie were already waiting. The matter was highly confidential, and only four people knew about it.

"Got it. Yang Ji handed over the Blood Dragon Sword wrapped in black cloth to the Sect Master.

"Well, well done, it's so efficient!" the sect leader handed the sword to Gongsun Jie, "I'll be in charge of keeping it for you." ”

"Yes. I hid it in a secret place where absolutely no one knew about it. Gongsun Jie took the sword and said.

"Yang Ji, I will definitely reward you again!" said the sect leader.

"The sect leader doesn't need to be rewarded, as long as he can marry the princess to me, I will be grateful!" Yang Ji came out of nowhere, and suddenly poured out his heart and said his long-cherished wish buried in his heart.

His words startled everyone, including himself. The sect leader was not mentally prepared at all, and was speechless all of a sudden.

Pang Tong took the opportunity to say, "The sect leader might as well think about it. I have known Yang Ji for more than two years, and I know his character best. Although he was a great thief, he was a righteous thief, and he contributed greatly to the economy of the religion, not to mention the great contribution he has made today. Maybe his identity is not worthy of the princess, but I don't think that's the point, the most important thing is that his love for the princess is sincere and unquestionable, and he can protect the princess and give her happiness, and that's enough. ”

Gongsun Jie also helped to say some good things. After all, the sect leader is still a reasonable person, and said: "You are right, character is more important than anything else, not to mention that Yang Ji has indeed made a great contribution to this sect. Don't worry, I'll tell her, and I can't guarantee if she's willing or not. ”

"Sect Leader Xie!" Yang Ji knelt down happily, "I will work hard!"

The sect leader helped him up and emphasized again: "The matter of stealing the sword must be kept strictly secret, and the slightest rumor must not be leaked!"

"Yes. The three of them replied in unison.

In the early morning, when the temple keeper opened his eyes and habitually stretched his waist, and found that the blood dragon sword enshrined in incense and the statue of the god had become an ordinary wooden sword, his first reaction was that of a prank by a certain cultist, he was puzzled when he saw a note stuck in the tip of the sword, and when he saw the contents of the note, he let out a scream that tore through the sky.

The screams coming from the temple were not an ordinary accident, and it didn't take long for a large number of cultists to pour in, and everyone felt that the volume of this scream was beyond the ordinary range.

"You... Look!" said the temple keeper, pointing disobediently at the wooden sword on the golden dragon stand.

Everyone followed in their footsteps and collectively screamed - the Blood Dragon Sword was gone!

The temple keeper stumbled all the way into the cottage with a wooden sword and a note to report to Huo You.

"Big... It's a big deal, Sect Master, the Blood Dragon Sword has been ...... Steal!" the temple keeper burst in panting, and was almost unconscious when he saw the sect leader.

"What are you talking about?!, our holy relic, the Blood Dragon Sword......" Huo You quickly took the provocative book and read it, tore it to shreds, and smashed the wooden sword again.

"Master, what's going on?" a staff officer asked.

"How can this be justified!" Huo You said angrily, "those Shanyue stole our holy relics, saying that we were as brittle as rotten wood, and that they would avenge six years ago! Hmph, the revenge of six years ago is exactly what I want to avenge! I want them to pay for my left eye, and even more so to take back our holy relics!"

Six years ago, Huo You was shot in the left eye by an enemy arrow during a dispute with the king of Yue, and has since become a one-eyed dragon. He had always wanted to find an opportunity to avenge his revenge, but today he suddenly saw that the other party was so arrogant, how could he not be angry? Pang Tong had firmly grasped this point, so he could easily let him take the bait.

Huo You said to everyone: "The Blood Dragon Sword is a sacred relic of this sect, sacred and inviolable, but now it has been stolen by Shanyue, should we take it back?"

"Yes!" everyone echoed in unison, all of them outlaws.

"They ignored the existence of the religion, insulted us to the fullest, and made me lose an eye. Do you want to settle accounts with them?"

"Yes!"

"Shanyue owes us a lot of blood debts, do you want to pay it off all at once?"

"Yes!!" echoed wave after wave.

"And when are we going to settle accounts with them?"

"Now!" shouted the crowd.

"Hmm. Huo You glanced at the group, "The Big Three are there?"

"Yes!" the triumvirate replied in unison.

"Yamagoe has bases all over the place, but I guess there are only three places that can do this kind of thing. Wu Da, you lead 500 elite soldiers to attack Lishan Mountain; Zhou Yan, you lead 500 elite soldiers to attack Wuchao Mountain; Ma Jun, you lead 1,000 elite soldiers with me to attack Wolf Bone Mountain, I vow to kill the king of Yue! Now hurry up and deploy, and gather at the gate in an hour!" Huo You was impatient for a moment, eager to catch Shanyue off guard.

"Yes!" the triumvirate went their separate ways.