https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-23-On-the-Martial-Arts-World-Beyond-the-Pass/12535928/
Chapter 22: The Weapons Manual and the Forbes List are Exactly Alike
Chapter 22: The Weapons Manual and the Forbes List are Exactly Alike
Youlong Sheng now understood why Long Xiaoyun had left Xingyun Manor after the incident with Meihua Thief, disappearing for two years.
Everything in Xingyun Manor, even Lin Shiyin, had been given to him by Li Xenhuan. After his scheme to frame Li Xenhuan was exposed, he could no longer face anyone and had no choice but to leave.
Even Lin Shiyin had turned against him, so how could he still show his face there? If the truth hadn't been revealed, he might have been able to maintain appearances with Li Xenhuan, but now that Lin Shiyin had exposed his actions, especially with everyone else knowing the truth, he had only one path left.
Kill Li Xenhuan!
As long as Li Xenhuan was dead, he would still be the revered Fourth Young Master of the Long family, Long Xiaoyun, the Silver Spear that Shakes the River. But as long as Li Xenhuan lived, he, Long Xiaoyun, would be known as an ungrateful villain.
So, as Youlong Sheng strode out of Xingyun Manor, all he saw were evasive and shifting gazes from the manor's residents.
The situation was even worse than in the original story.
After all, in the original narrative, Li Xenhuan had been almost universally believed to be the Meihua Thief. Although Long Xiaoyun had plotted against him, it could be argued that he was acting in the interests of justice and putting family loyalty aside for the greater good. It wasn't until Li Xenhuan cleared his name that Long Xiaoyun was forced to leave.
But now, everyone had their own sense of justice. With the likelihood that Li Xenhuan wasn't the Meihua Thief, Long Xiaoyun's collaboration with Zhao Zhengyi, Tian Qi, and others to frame Li Xenhuan, coupled with his fake display of tears, made him seem both foolish and despicable.
Even if Zhao Zhengyi, Tian Qi, and Gongsun Moyun could claim they had misunderstood and try to clear their names, Long Xiaoyun's performance after plotting against Li Xenhuan was something he could never wash away.
No one expected that after all the verbal sparring and chaos, the one who suffered the most would be Long Xiaoyun, who had never lifted a finger.
Long Xiaoyun: (╯‵□′)
╯︵┻━┻
Even Youlong Sheng, who had only wanted to be a bystander, hadn't anticipated this turn of events.
At the same time, this development eased his concerns about the impact of the changing narrative.
"It seems that since they couldn't definitively frame Li Xenhuan as the Meihua Thief, there's no longer a need to wait for Tie Di," Youlong Sheng thought. "But if we leave early, will they still set a trap for A Fei?"
In the original story, when A Fei came to rescue Li Xenhuan during the day, he was ambushed by a disguised Youlong Sheng. As he fought his way out of the Small Luohan Array, he was severely injured from behind by Xinmei Master, and finally, Tie Di pinned him down and inflicted several more wounds. A Fei ended up failing to rescue Li Xenhuan and was instead saved by Lin Xian'er in a classic damsel-in-distress moment.
Youlong Sheng recalled the plot and could only shake his head, unsure of what would happen next.
"With me here, A Fei probably won't take the risk of coming. But even if he does, without Xinmei Master and the Small Luohan Array, Tie Di alone definitely won't be able to capture A Fei, and it's not something I need to worry about anyway."
Tie Di had a formidable reputation, but that was before A Fei and Jing Wuming entered the martial arts world.
Even Guosheng Yang had been no match for Jing Wuming, let alone Tie Di, who wasn't even listed in the Weapons Manual.
Speaking of the Weapons Manual...
Youlong Sheng could only laugh at the thought. A mere booklet that recorded only weapon experts and solitary warriors, claiming to exclude women and the demonic sect, somehow managed to captivate the entire martial world, making them idolize Bai Xiaosheng as if he were a god.
It just goes to show how many illiterate people there were in the martial world! The Weapons Manual, with its focus on exotic and unusual weapons, diverted people's attention from the more common weapons and experts.
What about the qimei staff or the standard-issue longsword? Don't they count as weapons?
What about the Shaolin Temple, the Wudang Sect, the various sword sects, and the prominent families of the martial world?
None of them were on the list!
By blatantly inciting conflict among solitary warriors, the manual had successfully trapped them all in its scheme. This reminded Youlong Sheng of the Forbes Wealth List from centuries later.
While Youlong Sheng's Cangjian Mountain Villa had gained some notoriety and held a degree of influence in Jinzhong, when viewed in the context of the entire martial world, it was merely a local power known primarily for its sword forging.
If it weren't for Old Man Zangling, who possessed decent martial arts skills and was adept at socializing, the villa wouldn't have gained its current reputation.
However, the rise of the villa had been relatively recent, and it lacked a large number of descendants and top-notch experts, preventing it from being ranked among the top martial arts clans.
Perhaps after several decades, when Youlong Sheng expanded their business territory and had children to continue their lineage, they might be able to join the ranks of the nine great martial arts families.
Shifting the topic back...
In the original novel, Lin Xian'er had commented that Tie Di was one of the most renowned figures in the current jianghu. This indicated that Tie Di was definitely not someone to be underestimated. However, the fact that he was not included in the Weapons Manual suggested that he had connections with many righteous sects and was part of the established power structure. As such, he was kept out of the limelight to avoid attracting hatred from other factions.
Recalling his brief appearances in the novel, during his first encounter with A Fei, Tie Di arrogantly demanded a three-move contest, only to be struck in the chest by A Fei, who then let him go. In his second appearance, he sought to kill Li Xenhuan, who had been captured and accused of being the Meihua Thief, to avenge his beloved. However, due to his severe injuries, he was easily knocked unconscious by Lin Shiyin.
From these incidents, Youlong Sheng deduced that Tie Di was a sentimental man with decent martial arts skills, a proud yet simple-minded individual.
Hmm? He's a bit similar to my previous life!
Well, but much stronger than me back then...
With these thoughts in mind, Youlong Sheng, accompanied by Duan Qian and Feng Wan, arrived at the back door of Xingyun Manor.
Waiting at the back door was a large carriage and three swift horses from the Cangjian Mountain Villa.
Li Xenhuan had already been placed in the carriage, along with Xinmei Master. Four gray-robed monks from Da Mo Temple stood behind the carriage.
Having just arrived at Xingyun Manor, they hadn't accumulated many belongings, which explained their swift departure.
As Youlong Sheng reached the back door, he ran into Tian Qi, who was carrying a small bundle.
They exchanged smiles, and Youlong Sheng gestured for him to lead the way. "After you, Master Tian."
Tian Qi didn't stand on ceremony and promptly boarded the carriage. "Are you riding horseback or joining us in the carriage, Young Master You?"
Youlong Sheng glanced at the three horses tied to the hitching post and then at the four monks following the carriage. "Are the four of you planning to walk?"
"Amitabha! Rest assured, Young Master You," the leading monk said with a bow. "Our speed will not be slower than the carriage."
"I'm in no hurry," Youlong Sheng said with a shake of his head. "I'm just concerned about you getting tired."
Turning to Duan Qian and Feng Wan, he continued, "Hang these on my horse. You two can lead the way, and I'll ride in the carriage with Master Xinmei."
"Yes!"
Duan Qian and Feng Wan responded in unison and proceeded to hang the two large bundles on Youlong Sheng's white horse, tying it next to the carriage so it would follow along.
Tian Qi couldn't help but tease, "Young Master You sure is prepared for your journey."
Youlong Sheng nodded. "I'm a cautious man. These are all life-saving items."
Tian Qi's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "What are they?"
Youlong Sheng lifted the curtain and settled into the carriage, glancing at Li Xenhuan before turning back to Tian Qi. "You might find out tomorrow."
(End of Chapter)
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