https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-146-Persuading-Lu-Fengxian-to-Seek-Out-Lin-Xian-er/12536184/
Chapter 147: Li Xinhuan Falls into a Trap, Yet Again
Chapter 147: Li Xinhuan Falls into a Trap, Yet Again
Heroes drank and revelry ensued! Guo Songyang was the first to leave, followed by Bai Tianyu, who also bid their farewells.
These men were like tigers, and their gathering was but a fleeting moment of camaraderie. Their true nature was to roam alone.
If it weren't for the impending duel with Shangguan Jinhong, Guo Songyang wouldn't have stayed in the tower with Li Xinhuan for over ten days. Likewise, Li Xinhuan and You Longsheng wouldn't have kept Bai Tianyu by their side as a bodyguard.
And so, Guo Songyang returned home. As for Bai Tianyu, his encounter with Li Xinhuan, Ling Fengxian, and their two battles with Jing Wuming, as well as witnessing Shangguan Jinhong's martial arts, had a profound impact on him. He decided to return home and seclude himself for a while to assimilate his recent experiences.
Bai Tianyu, now in the bustling world of Central Plains, was naturally going to indulge in the pleasures it offered. While the two flowers back home were exquisite, the wildflowers of the Central Plains were equally alluring!
Those who remained at the inn were You Longsheng, Ding Baiyun, Li Xinhuan, and Lin Lingling.
When You Longsheng and Ding Baiyun finally emerged from their rooms and made their way to the inn's lobby, they found Lin Lingling sitting alone, eating breakfast while keeping an eye on the entrance.
"Where's Li Xinhuan?" You Longsheng asked.
"He said he saw a friend he hasn't seen in years," Lin Lingling replied. "He thought this friend was being tailed, so he asked me to wait here while he followed them."
"A friend he hasn't seen in years?" You Longsheng stroked his chin, surprised that Li Xinhuan would leave with them still around, believing that Long Xiaoyun and Hu Bugui wouldn't dare make a move.
In the original story, Hu Bugui, disguised as Tie Chuanjia, conspired with the remaining members of the Central Plains Eight Righteous to trick Li Xinhuan. They captured him and brought him to Long Xiaoyun's hideout. Long Xiaoyun then used Li Xinhuan's life as leverage to form a sworn brotherhood with Shangguan Jinhong.
Subsequently, Shangguan Jinhong ordered Lin Xian'er to kill Ah Fei. However, Lin Xian'er, upon learning the truth from Long Xiaoyun, decided to counter Shangguan Jinhong by sending Ah Fei back into the jianghu to rescue Li Xinhuan.
Ah Fei, guided by Long Xiaoyun and Jing Wuming, found Li Xinhuan, but they were no match for Jing Wuming. Fortunately, Li Xinhuan was secretly aided by Hu Bugui, who intervened at a critical moment and crippled one of Jing Wuming's arms.
Soon after, Lu Fengxian appeared. She worked with Li Xinhuan to boost Ah Fei's confidence and was then entrusted with the task of killing Lin Xian'er. However, she turned dark, killing Lin Lingling and ultimately ending up crippled herself after being betrayed by Lin Xian'er and intimidated by Shangguan Jinhong.
...
Back to the present, the friend Li Xinhuan spoke of was, of course, Hu Bugui disguised as Tie Chuanjia.
"When did he leave?" You Longsheng inquired.
"It's been about an hour," Lin Lingling replied.
You Longsheng clicked his tongue. "That's troublesome."
"Why?" Ding Baiyun asked.
"He might have fallen into a trap," You Longsheng said gravely.
Ding Baiyun and Lin Lingling: ???
Ding Baiyun, perplexed, asked, "How could he have been trapped?"
You Longsheng didn't answer. Instead, he pulled Ding Baiyun toward the door, saying, "Let's go. We might still catch the thrilling moment of him being ambushed."
Lin Lingling hurried after them, adding, "The friend he mentioned, the one he hasn't seen in years, looked like a beggar. He was tall and burly, wearing a worn felt hat. The one tailing him was a very tall and thin man from the jianghu."
You Longsheng nodded in approval. "Good observation."
He then explained to Ding Baiyun, "The friend Li Xinhuan mentioned, the one he hasn't seen in years, should be Tie Chuanjia."
Ding Baiyun asked, "With their skills, they might not even be able to defeat Tie Chuanjia in a group attack. How could they possibly ambush Li Xinhuan?"
"So they appeared right before Li Xinhuan's eyes. Don't you think it's a trap?" You Longsheng said.
Ding Baiyun frowned, failing to understand You Longsheng's train of thought. "What if they simply didn't realize Li Xinhuan was there?"
"Then we should see Li Xinhuan and Tie Chuanjia together soon." You Longsheng replied.
...
Instead of seeing Li Xinhuan and Tie Chuanjia together, they spotted a group of people huddled at the end of a secluded alley.
"It looks like Li Xinhuan is surrounded by them. Could he have really fallen into their trap?" Ding Baiyun exclaimed in surprise.
"He's actually quite easy to ambush. Anyone pretending to be his friend could probably succeed." You Longsheng shrugged.
Ding Baiyun was speechless. Li Xinhuan had an infamous reputation, yet in the short time she had known him, this was already his second ambush.
And You Longsheng was right; Li Xinhuan did tend to fall into traps.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry and save him!" Lin Lingling urged anxiously.
Unexpectedly, You Longsheng rubbed his hands together in excitement. "No need to rush. It's not easy to trap Li Xinhuan, and they didn't kill him on the spot. They must have a purpose. Let's not rush to his rescue and see what they're up to first."
Lin Lingling was speechless, suddenly remembering You Longsheng's twisted sense of humor. When Guo Songyang had ambushed them in the tower, he had teased Li Xinhuan in a similar fashion.
However, Ding Baiyun understood You Longsheng's character and simply asked, "Won't Li Xinhuan be in danger?"
You Longsheng nodded, "I saw a familiar face too. I'll talk to him later."
Then, they quietly followed Hu Bugui and the Eight Heroes of the Central Plains as they led Li Xinhuan through several alleys and into a small courtyard surrounded by high walls.
Not long after, the Eight Heroes emerged from the courtyard, led by a blind man.
"Second Brother, that Long Xiaoyun is despicable. Do you think he can really find Tie Chuanjia?" a pockmarked man asked.
The blind man paused before replying indifferently, "But he is one of Li Xinhuan's sworn brothers. If anyone in this world could use Li Xinhuan to lure out Tie Chuanjia, it would be him."
Another man in a blue robe spat, "Working with such a man makes me sick!"
A fierce-looking one-eyed woman snarled, "Our priority is to capture Tie Chuanjia! He must die by our hands!"
As they spoke, the group walked away.
From the corner, Ding Baiyun stared at the small courtyard in disbelief, "Long Xiaoyun is here? The mastermind behind the ambush of Li Xinhuan is actually Long Xiaoyun?"
You Longsheng nodded, "It seems so. With the simple minds of the Eight Heroes of the Central Plains, they probably couldn't come up with a plan to ambush Li Xinhuan themselves."
The next moment, a sinister voice rang out above their heads, "You three little brats, are you here to save Li Xinhuan?"
Ding Baiyun was startled and quickly looked up to see a burly beggar-like man sitting on the wall, grinning at them.
Then they heard You Longsheng cup his hands and laugh, "Uncle Hu, we meet again after our parting at Wudang!"
(End of Chapter)
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