https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-163-The-Thoroughbred-Finally-Proves-Its-Worth/12536201/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-165-Finally-Afi-Can-Be-Mocked-Without-Danger/12536203/
Chapter 164: The Chains of the Heaven's Secret Old Man
Chapter 164: The Chains of the Heaven's Secret Old Man
Li Xinhuan and Sun Xiaohong had left, riding You Longsheng's Night-Shrouding White and Ding Baiyun's Sky-Bluesteed.
With the speed of these two horses, they could easily make a round trip and still leave Li Xinhuan with ample rest time.
"Shangguan Jinhong has missed a crucial detail amidst his meticulous planning," Ding Baiyun said with a cold laugh. "The fact that he resorted to such a scheme against Li Xinhuan shows how much he fears him. In this battle, Li Xinhuan has at least a 70% chance of winning."
Her confidence in Li Xinhuan stemmed from the fact that, compared to the original story, his current state was much better.
In the original novel, Li Xinhuan had not cleared up the misunderstanding with Lin Shiyin, nor had he witnessed Fei's liberation from his chains. Moreover, he had personally buried Guo Songyang and Lin Lingling, making his situation utterly miserable.
If Li Xinhuan were still in his original state, Ding Baiyun would never have believed he had a 70% chance of victory. Even a 30% chance would be solely due to the invincible legend of his infallible dagger techniques.
"Fifty-fifty at best," said the Heaven's Secret Old Man, taking a draw from his dry pipe and gently interrupting Ding Baiyun. "Shangguan Jinhong has been biding his time, and he's not one to be underestimated."
"With the death of Shangguan Fei, Jing Wuming's betrayal, and the significant losses among the skilled members of the Money Gang, their strength has been greatly diminished," the old man sighed. "Shangguan Jinhong is at his peak, and his momentum is formidable."
Ding Baiyun fell silent. No matter what, she wouldn't presume to be more qualified than the Heaven's Secret Old Man to comment on the upcoming battle between Li Xinhuan and Shangguan Jinhong.
The old man finished the last draw from his pipe, tapped out the ashes, and then slowly rose to his feet, preparing to leave.
"Alright, if you have the time, go and see Fei," the Heaven's Secret Old Man said.
Ding Baiyun remained silent. They weren't very familiar with the old man, and it was only natural that he wouldn't join them, given his status as the former number one on the 'Arsenal Rankings'.
However, You Longsheng laughed and said, "Li Xinhua was just getting familiar with the terrain, and I saw that after Miss Sun chatted with you in the pavilion, she knelt down. What happened?"
The Heaven's Secret Old Man smiled indifferently. "It's nothing. We were just talking about some family matters."
"Oh, that's good!" You Longsheng laughed. "I thought Miss Sun was worried that Li Xinhua, the third-ranked, wouldn't be able to defeat Shangguan Jinhong, the second-ranked, so she begged you, the first-ranked, to take action in advance."
The Heaven's Secret Old Man chuckled. "How is that possible? This is Li Xinhua's battle."
"Indeed," You Longsheng nodded. "A mere clash between the second and third-ranked wouldn't even catch your eye, would it?"
The corner of the Heaven's Secret Old Man's mouth twitched, and he didn't answer directly. Instead, he shook his head and smiled faintly. "In this world, no one can be certain of defeating Shangguan Jinhong or Li Xinhuan."
You Longsheng raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Not even you?"
The Heaven's Secret Old Man paused for a moment before nodding. "Not even me."
"So, you still plan to go and face Shangguan Jinhong alone?" You Longsheng asked with a smile.
The Heaven's Secret Old Man suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with a sharp light as he held You Longsheng's gaze. Then, he slowly nodded. "Young Master You is indeed exceptionally intelligent."
You Longsheng's ability to guess that Sun Xiaohong had knelt to plead for the old man's help in killing Shangguan Jinhong was a testament to his cleverness.
Ding Baiyun, who was standing beside them, was startled and only now realized that the Heaven's Secret Old Man had been planning to go and duel Shangguan Jinhong.
"Did you agree to Miss Sun's request?" You Longsheng asked.
The Heaven's Secret Old Man nodded. "Isn't it only right for me, the first-ranked, to go and kill Shangguan Jinhong, the second-ranked?"
Yu Longsheng continued, "You said that Ah Fei's chains are love, and Li Xinhuan's chains are his friends. Do you have any chains binding you?"
The old man smiled. "I'm already in my seventies, with one foot in the grave. What chains could I possibly have?"
"Is that so?" Yu Longsheng asked. "In the past decade or so, there hasn't been any news of your whereabouts or any record of you taking action."
The old man replied indifferently, "That's only because there hasn't been anything worth this old man's intervention."
Yu Longsheng raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What about Shangguan Jinhong?"
A frown appeared on the old man's forehead. "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that in the past two years, Shangguan Jinhong has been rampant in the martial arts world, dominating the scene. Even before he reached his peak, you didn't take action. Instead, you sought out Li Xinhuan. Now that he's backed into a corner and at his very peak, you've decided to intervene?" Yu Longsheng said with a smile.
"You say you have no chains, but I feel that your chains are even heavier than Ah Fei's and Li Xinhuan's!" Yu Longsheng's smile remained.
The Heaven's Secret Old Man's pupils contracted, and the look he gave Yu Longsheng changed.
"The title of 'Heaven's First' has been weighing on your shoulders for two decades now. Hasn't it been exhausting?" Yu Longsheng's eyes held a meaningful gaze.
The old man's eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he looked at Yu Longsheng.
Ding Baiyun glanced at Yu Longsheng, then at the old man, confused about what was happening.
Yu Longsheng chuckled. "You're getting on in years. At your age, going up against Shangguan Jinhong, who is not yet fifty, is practically seeking death. You have to admit that you're no longer the Heaven's First, or perhaps you never were."
A dazzling light flashed in the old man's eyes, so brilliant that even Ding Baiyun couldn't bear to look directly at him. She was stunned, as expected of the once first-ranked on the Arsenal Rankings, the Heaven's Secret Staff.
"I was never the Heaven's First?" The old man's voice held a hint of disbelief.
"Bai Xiaosheng's Arsenal Rankings are indeed quite influential, but they have never been truly comprehensive," Yu Longsheng said with a casual wave of his hand. "Not to mention the female masters and the scattered demonic sect, but what about the old fossils of Shaolin and Wudang? Are you sure you could have defeated them all?"
Yu Longsheng shrugged, a serene smile on his face. "Even if we don't count those major sects and martial arts families, you and Shen Lang the Hero were contemporaries. Perhaps you're even older than him. Are you truly confident that you could defeat Hero Shen?"
The old man remained silent.
"Bai Xiaosheng is just a scholar. Is his Arsenal Rankings ranking truly beyond question?" Yu Longsheng asked.
"Those who are neither here nor there are one thing," Yu Longsheng smiled, "but this ranking focuses on Guo Songyang and Lu Fengxian. However, Li Xinhuan doesn't care, and neither does Shangguan Jinhong.
That's why Li Xinhuan's throwing knives are unmatched, and Shangguan Jinhong was confident enough to establish the Money Gang, believing himself to be invincible."
Yu Longsheng's eyebrows arched, and he looked at the old man with a profound gaze. "I wonder if you ever took this Arsenal Rankings ranking to heart, if it ever mattered to you?"
The old man remained expressionless, but inside, his heart was stirring with tumultuous emotions.
Stroking his chin, Yu Longsheng continued, "So, the question is, do you plan to cling to this title of first on the Arsenal Rankings and go to your death, or will you wait for your granddaughter to give birth to Li Xinhuan's child and spend your remaining years enjoying the happiness of being a grandfather?"
(End of Chapter)
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