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Chapter 219: Cangling Debate of Swords (27)
Chapter 219: Cangling Debate of Swords (27)
In the Lingzhong Realm, three figures strode across a vast plain where the horizon blurred into mist.
Feng Bu Jue’s quick wit and silver tongue had, as always, swiftly earned the trust of the Npc without resorting to violence. Thus, Lu Qingning joined him and Si Yu, forming a trio to explore this mysterious space.
Feng Bu Jue continued posing as the master of the Broken Sword Teahouse, recycling the same story he’d used in Cangling Town. He recounted in detail his encounter with Ye Hai on the secret paths and his negotiations with the other members of the Huaying Six Swords, even mentioning Su Shang’s request for help deciphering the Mingyou Manual.
His tale blended truth and fabrication. The factual parts were rich in plausible details, while the falsehoods—mainly concerning his martial arts prowess and identity—were carefully guarded secrets.
After Feng Bu Jue’s smooth-talking, Lu Qingning didn’t fully trust the pair, but she was certain Feng, the teahouse master, and his wife weren’t assassins sent by Lin Chang. With swords sheathed and bows relaxed, she reciprocated by sharing critical intelligence—one that would dramatically advance and upend the scenario’s plot…
………
Rather than detailing the Npc’s dialogue with Feng Bu Jue, let’s shift to an omniscient perspective to explain the broader picture…
This tale begins months earlier, when Xie San received the challenge letter supposedly from Ye Cheng.
The letter was a forgery—Ye Cheng had already died by then. The true sender was Lin Chang.
Lin Chang, the second-highest expert in the Ye Mansion and leader of the Huaying Six Swords, was acknowledged as the Jianghu’s third-greatest swordsman. Known for his chivalry and humility, he married late—at thirty—and had no children. His wife was an ordinary woman, unconnected to the martial world.
Martially, Lin Chang’s talent was solid. At nearly forty, he’d risen to the pinnacle of first-tier experts, ranking among the top twenty in the entire martial arts world. He stood equal to Wanxia Tower’s master Gongsun Qian and Bafang Tower’s lord Ji Tong.
Yet compared to martial arts novel protagonists who dominated the world in their twenties, he was merely… adequate.
Lin Chang’s achievements were the result of steady, methodical progress. He’d entered the Ye Mansion as a child, his high aptitude matched by relentless diligence. His balanced temperament allowed him to master increasingly advanced techniques. Years of Jianghu experience honed his reputation and skill—his path was exemplary but unremarkable.
Yet this paragon of righteousness, in a moment of crisis, became a devil incarnate.
Lu Qingning now recalled that Lin Chang’s transformation began a year prior…
After returning from a mission, Lin Chang behaved oddly for two months—sometimes silent for days, other times erratic and volatile. Many disciples in the Ye Mansion suffered his unprovoked beatings or punishments during this time.
Then, as abruptly as it began, he returned to normal. The incident was quietly buried, dismissed as a temporary lapse in judgment.
But in hindsight, those two months had shattered his psyche. When he resumed his “normal” self, it was merely a mask.
Half a year later, Lin Chang’s secret preparations culminated in a grand scheme—a conspiracy to upend the entire martial arts world. The first step? Killing Ye Cheng.
By then, Lin Chang was nearly peerless in martial prowess. Though rivals existed, Ye Cheng was not among them. Thus, the Sword God fell—his death unnoticed, his corpse discarded in the Sword Tomb Prohibited Area of the Ye Mansion, undiscovered.
Lin Chang forged Ye Cheng’s handwriting to draft Xie San’s challenge letter. The short, blunt message contained only sixteen characters: Mid-Autumn Festival, Cangling Debate of Swords, World’s Number One, Winner Takes All.
He also forged a sealed order to Ye Hai, claiming it was from Ye Cheng himself: The Sword God shall remain in retreat until the duel. No one is to approach the Sword Tomb until then. The Ye elders and Huaying Six Swords may proceed to Cangling Town first; I shall arrive on the day of the duel.
Then, Lin Chang secretly spread news of the duel. Within ten days, the Pigeon Messenger Guild ensured the entire Jianghu—and even the imperial court—knew of the impending clash between the two greatest swordsmen in Cangling Town.
The Azure Spirit Inn opened shortly after, drawing martial artists from across the land.
Everything proceeded as planned—until an unexpected event occurred on the night before the scenario began, when the players entered this world.
That night, Lin Chang met secretly with his junior apprentice-brother Shang Fei in a secluded settlement. Shang Fei, the Shadowless Sword and second-ranked among the Huaying Six, was Lin Chang’s most loyal henchman. Eccentric and aloof, he held himself in high regard, trusting only Lin Chang.
Shang Fei’s allegiance stemmed from a mix of coercion and temptation—Lin Chang’s power left little room for refusal, and his promises of reward sealed the deal.
True to his title, the Shadowless Sword moved like a ghost, unseen and unheard. Lin Chang deemed him the perfect accomplice for four reasons: his formidable martial arts, especially his scouting skills; their long-standing trust; his secrecy (he rarely appeared in public); and the sheer scale of the plot, which demanded a partner.
Shang Fei proved diligent. He ferried intelligence between Tongqiu and Cangling, first reporting Xie San’s appearance in Tongqiu via a thousand-mile voice transmission. He also disposed of Ye Cheng’s corpse afterward.
But back to that fateful night.
Though Lin Chang and Shang Fei avoided explicit details, their conversation betrayed key truths: Ye Cheng’s murder, the ambush planned for Xie San, and Lin Chang’s godlike martial prowess.
Unluckily for them, every word was overheard by Lu Qingning, hiding in the shadows.
Ironically, Lu Qingning hadn’t intended to follow Lin Chang or Shang Fei. She’d been trailing someone else.
The previous night, she’d spotted the Wanxia Tower Pavilion Master’s wife and a handsome disciple sneaking out of the inn. Curious and gossip-inclined, she followed them.
Lu Qingning’s lightness arts ranked among the Jianghu’s finest, rivaling Shang Fei’s. Though she’d never match Lin Chang or Shang Fei in stealth, her target shifted when she spotted Lin Chang himself during her pursuit of Shi Yanran and Wang Ao.
Intrigued, she abandoned her original quarry to tail Lin Chang, unaware he’d nearly reached his meeting spot with Shang Fei. He’d repeatedly checked for followers, confident in his solitude—until fate intervened.
………
“Wait a moment, Lu Qingning…” Feng Bu Jue’s brow furrowed as he repeated her account: “You say you first saw Shi Yanran and Wang Ao sneaking out for a tryst, then stumbled upon Lin Chang and Shang Fei’s conspiracy. Fleeing Lin Chang’s pursuit, you escaped into the mountains until a strange bell rang, transporting you here. You claim you’ve been here over an hour?” He paused, calculating the time ratio between this realm and the outside world. “But the events before your arrival should’ve occurred last night, before we entered the town. We entered the Lingzhong Realm at sunset on August 13th—at least seven or eight hours ago.”
Lu Qingning’s expression shifted. “Master Feng’s implying…?”
“If we don’t leave this Lingzhong Realm within three hours…” Feng Bu Jue mused.
Si Yu finished his thought: “We’ll miss the duel.”
“But the clan head is dead! Xie San might be too. What duel remains?” Lu Qingning countered.
“Ah, I wonder too… What spectacle does Lin Chang plan for the martial world on Mid-Autumn night?” Feng Bu Jue chuckled, stroking his nose. Suddenly, he laughed aloud. “Still, lingering here has perks. We can ignore that mass-poisoning scheme now.”
“Poisoning? Mass?” Lu Qingning blinked in confusion.
Si Yu smiled. “My husband jokes. Our Broken Sword Teahouse has many outsiders who miss our humor.” She turned to Feng Bu Jue. “What of the others?”
Feng Bu Jue shrugged. “From the side quest tasks, Xiao Tan and Bei Ling seem to have entered some strange realm too… If trouble strikes, Jin Fugui might bear it alone.”
(End of Chapter)
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