Chapter 140: Li Xinhuan Falls Into Another Ambush
Chapter 140: Li Xinhuan Falls Into Another Ambush
You Longsheng and Ding Baiyun decided to stay, but unlike Li Xinhuan, who rarely left the tower, Guo Songyang would often go out, and You Longsheng and Ding Baiyun spent most of their days wandering outside.
Being close to Jinan Prefecture and Dezhou, You Longsheng had his fill of the famous Dezhou roasted chicken.
"Is Li Xinhuan's secret to practicing his knife skills by carving wood?" Ding Baiyun couldn't help but ask, "I haven't seen him practice martial arts in days."
Over the past few days, Li Xinhuan had asked Lin Lingling for a pile of wood and spent his days carving in his room. Ding Baiyun sneaked a peek and could make out that Li Xinhuan was carving a lifelike statue of a young girl in brocade, but he deliberately left the face untouched.
Even without the face, Ding Baiyun knew he was carving Lin Shiyin.
The younger version of Lin Shiyin.
Ding Baiyun sighed, wondering if he had said too much the other day.
Compared to Li Xinhuan, who rarely left the tower, even Guo Songyang maintained his condition by practicing a set of punches and swords every morning, not to mention You Longsheng and Ding Baiyun.
You Longsheng spread his hands helplessly, "I have no idea when he practices his skills."
In the original novel, Li Xinhuan had spent these two years in a drunken haze.
Drinking seven pots of wine in the evening and then taking seven more pots back to his room, he would have drunk himself to death if not for Sun Tuozi's intervention.
No one knew how Lin Shiyin was protected during this time.
From any perspective, he was a drunkard on the verge of ruining himself.
If You Longsheng had spent his years like this, he would have been truly wasted, but Li Xinhuan was exceptionally formidable. Despite being in a drunken state for two years, he defeated a peak-condition Guo Songyang in a martial arts contest. How could one explain such a paradox?
A similar situation occurred with Fu Hongxue twenty years later. After being heavily drunk for thirteen days, he instantly regained his full strength and killed the well-rested and prepared Xue Dahai with a single strike, all because he had seen Cui Nong.
Such was the power of martial arts driven by spirit and conviction—illogical yet undeniable.
Ding Baiyun asked, "Isn't he worried at all? Doesn't he make any preparations?"
Anyone facing an imminent trap set specifically for them would take it seriously, especially masters. Masters who underestimated their enemies often met their demise.
Yet, Li Xinhuan spent his days drinking and carving.
Ding Baiyun suddenly realized, "Could this be Li Xinhuan's way of calming his mind?"
You Longsheng was speechless.
This... he wouldn't know unless he reached that level himself.
...
On the first day of October, an auspicious day for all matters.
Li Xinhuan bathed, shaved, and put on a new set of clothes.
However, before he could leave, You Longsheng and Ding Baiyun blocked his path in the room, "Oh? All dressed up for a date?"
Li Xinhuan smiled bitterly, "Didn't you two just leave yesterday?"
In the past few days, You Longsheng and Ding Baiyun had spent most of their time outside. They had returned briefly yesterday and were leaving again. Li Xinhuan had gotten up early specifically to avoid them, but it seemed he hadn't been early enough.
"Rest assured, I won't disturb your tryst. But can you bring Lin Xian'er back?" You Longsheng asked with a smile.
Li Xinhuan's eyes flickered, and he readily agreed, "If I meet her, I will definitely bring her and A Fei back."
The next moment, Guo Songyang's voice sounded from the door, "You're leaving already? I just got back."
Then, a drunken Guo Songyang walked into the room.
Li Xinhuan laughed, "So Brother Guo was enjoying a night of drinking last night. Why didn't you call for me?"
Guo Songyang laughed heartily and moved closer to Li Xinhuan, teasing, "The place I went to last night isn't suitable for you, Li Brother. As for the details, it's not something I can share with outsiders."
Li Xinhuan flipped and fell to the ground.
Lin Lingling was startled, but before she could react, Guo Songyang suddenly turned and moved towards You Longsheng. With lightning speed, he struck again, and You Longsheng collapsed without even a chance to resist.
Guo Songyang's speed was like lightning, and it wasn't until You Longsheng fell that Ding Baiyun reacted, taking a step back and drawing his sword.
However, Guo Songyang didn't make any further moves. Instead, he reached into Li Xinhuan's pocket and pulled out a letter.
"Young Master You's perspective is still too narrow. Li Xinhuan is indeed going to keep an appointment, but it's not with Lin Xian'er. It's with Shangguan Jinhong."
Guo Songyang said calmly, "Unless she colludes with Shangguan Jinhong, how dare she lay a hand on Li Xinhuan?"
"What?!" Ding Baiyun exclaimed, surprised that Shangguan Jinhong was involved once again.
The drunkenness on Guo Songyang's face had completely vanished, and he said, "The opportunity to face Shangguan Jinhong doesn't come often, and I must not let it slip by."
Lin Lingling asked, "Are you going in his stead?"
Guo Songyang replied, "I know he would never let me accompany him, and I don't want him to accompany me either. It's like drinking; it's only enjoyable with two people. A third person would ruin the fun."
Guo Songyang looked at Ding Baiyun, "You can't unseal the acupoints I've pressed, so you might as well stay here with Li Xinhuan and You Longsheng."
Without waiting for Ding Baiyun to respond, Guo Songyang abruptly turned and strode out.
...
Li Xinhuan couldn't move or speak, but his senses remained. As he watched Guo Songyang leave, his eyes welled up with tears.
He never expected that Guo Songyang would be willing to die for him!
"So, I really don't understand. Is Guo Songyang stupid?"
Li Xinhuan suddenly heard You Longsheng's voice, "Knowing that Shangguan Jinhong and Jing Wuming should be together, he goes to the appointment alone. He's walking into certain death. Why didn't he bring Li Xinhuan along?"
As Li Xinhuan looked on in disbelief, You Longsheng suddenly sat up straight, twisting his neck and body, "That guy Guo really knows how to lay it on thick. My acupoints are killing me."
Li Xinhuan was stunned. Although he couldn't speak or move, he almost popped his eyeballs out.
"You're stupid too," You Longsheng said to Li Xinhuan, "Since you knew it was Shangguan Jinhong inviting you, you should've known they'd be together."
Of course!
"So you hid it from Guo Songyang, and he ambushed you." You Longsheng shook his head, "I really don't understand what you two are thinking."
Lin Lingling interjected, "Perhaps they both know the dangers of this battle and don't want to drag their friends into it."
Shangguan Jinhong and Jing Wuming had cultivated their hearts to be in sync, and when they attacked together, the effect was not simply the sum of their strengths but something greater.
That was why Li Xinhuan didn't want Guo Songyang to go, and Guo Songyang didn't want Li Xinhuan to go either.
Li Xinhuan had prepared himself for death, and although he regretted it, he wasn't worried. He knew that whether it was Guo Songyang or You Longsheng, they would take care of Lin Shiyin.
As for Guo Songyang, he was deliberately walking into death to test the opponent's martial arts and create future opportunities for Li Xinhuan.
This was the friendship between the two men.
(End of Chapter)
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