https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-260-Taking-Action-But-the-Enemy-Has-a-Backup-Plan/12536429/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-262-The-Inept-and-Clueless-Seven-Heroes-of-the-Marketplace/12536436/
Chapter 261: Eat Your Melons When They're Ripe
Chapter 261: Eat Your Melons When They're Ripe
"What?!"
Su Shaoying was also taken aback. He rose slightly, eyeing Yan Tieshan's corpse, his eyes still open in death, and the crossbow bolt embedded in his vest. He hadn't expected his first intervention in the world of Lu Xiaofeng to be in vain.
"So that's how it is..."
Su Shaoying sat back down, his mind quickly piecing things together.
In the original story, He Tianqing and Shangguan Feiyan had intended to use Lu Xiaofeng's hands to kill Yan Tieshan. However, they didn't anticipate that Yan Tieshan's martial arts had already deteriorated significantly, making him no match for Lu Xiaofeng. This lack of a challenge took away their motivation to act.
Thus, in order to prevent Yan Tieshan from revealing the truth, Shangguan Feiyan had no choice but to take matters into her own hands.
So, Su Shaoying had assumed that by shielding Yan Tieshan just now, it would be enough to prompt Yan Tieshan to divulge what he knew, sowing seeds of doubt in Lu Xiaofeng's mind, who would then unravel the truth behind the assassination attempt.
However, Su Shaoying hadn't anticipated He Xiu's presence at the scene. As the backup plan, he made the final move, delivering the fatal blow that Shangguan Feiyan had left unfinished. And with that, Yan Tieshan died.
Yes, the one who made the final move had to be He Xiu, even if it wasn't explicitly mentioned in the original novel, and even though Su Shaoying hadn't seen him. It was an easy deduction to make.
Su Shaoying let out a sigh. This was the difference between The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng and The Sentimental Swordsman and the Heartless Sword. The former was simply too sparse in its narrative, leaving who knew how many secrets hidden beneath the surface.
These cases involving Lu Xiaofeng, putting aside the last two stories that were riddled with contradictions, even the so-called pinnacle of the first three stories had their fair share of coincidences, missing details, and plot holes.
For instance, how much did Yan Tieshan and Du Gu Yihe truly know? Why did Yan Tieshan try to drive Lu Xiaofeng away at first? What exactly was the truth he wanted to reveal?
...
As Su Shaoying pondered these questions, the figure in black across the room had already pulled off their face covering, revealing Shangguan Danfeng, her eyes filled with resentment and hatred as she glared at the deceased Yan Tieshan. "I am Princess Danfeng of the Great Golden Phoenix Kingdom. I am here to settle the score for the wrongs you committed in the past."
The ensuing scene played out as follows: Ximen Chuixue threatened Shangguan Danfeng, forbidding her from using her sword, and then left. He Tianqing challenged Lu Xiaofeng to a duel at Qingfeng Temple tomorrow at sunrise, carrying Yan Tieshan's body with him as he departed.
Back in the water pavilion, only Lu Xiaofeng, Hua Manlou, Shangguan Danfeng, and Su Shaoying, who had resumed eating and drinking, remained.
Lu Xiaofeng didn't inquire about the assassin's identity, as he was aware that Shangguan Danfeng had an accomplice named Liu Yuhan. Nonetheless, he found himself looking at Su Shaoying.
"You can still eat?" Lu Xiaofeng asked.
"I'm not dead, so why wouldn't I eat?" Su Shaoying countered.
"What did you mean earlier when you said, 'So that's how it is'?" Lu Xiaofeng asked again.
Su Shaoying spread his hands. "If I tell you, will you believe me?"
Lu Xiaofeng's eyes sparkled. "How would you know whether I believe you or not if you don't tell me?"
Su Shaoying remained silent, but the look he gave Shangguan Danfeng was filled with ill intent. He was contemplating whether to expose her disguise right now.
If he did so, what would the consequences be?
The first consequence would be... how would he explain his knowledge of these events? Not just Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou, but even Du Gu Yihe would likely suspect him.
The second consequence would be... he would become the sole target of He Tianqing and He Xiu's wrath. They would stop at nothing to kill him.
Did he have a reasonable explanation? No, and so he would find himself in an untenable position.
Su Shaoying glanced at the bloodstains that the attendants had not yet cleaned up and replied indifferently, "Isn't that the case?"
"Yan Liben betrayed his trust and took away our last hope of restoring the country. These people aided and abetted him, and the wealth they possess actually belongs to the Jinpeng Dynasty. They deserve to die!"
Shangguan Danfeng reprimanded, "Even He Tianqing admitted that Yan Liben was a traitor to the Jinpeng Dynasty. We are here to collect a debt. Do you intend to turn the tables on him?"
Shangguan Danfeng's words were righteous and unwavering.
Su Shaoying could only nod and respond with even more conviction, "You're absolutely right. Anyone who conspires to seize the wealth of the Jinpeng Dynasty deserves to die.
Their skins should be peeled off to make human skin lanterns, their tendons extracted to fashion whips, their bodies boiled for lamp oil, their skulls ground into chamber pots, and their souls cast into the eighteenth level of hell, while their children become turtles and prostitutes."
Lu Xiaofeng looked at Su Shaoying with a strange expression, a mix of amusement and pity. He wondered what expression Su Shaoying would make when he found out that his own master was also one of them.
Yes, although Su Shaoying had not intervened as he did in the original story, Yan Tieshan had already revealed his true name. Someone as clever as Lu Xiaofeng would surely have deduced his identity.
Lu Xiaofeng had every reason to find the situation amusing, but he failed to notice that Shangguan Danfeng by his side had already twisted her features in anger.
Su Shaoying felt a sense of regret. If Hua Manlou weren't blind, he would have surely noticed Shangguan Danfeng's unusual behavior.
...
And then Lu Xiaofeng and his companions left.
Su Shaoying watched as He Tianqing prepared a funeral hall and coffin for Yan Tieshan.
He stood in the funeral hall, but He Tianqing acted as if he didn't see him at all and didn't bother to ask him any questions.
Thus, Su Shaoying realized that when he had asked Du Gu Yihe about his identity the night before, it had only been a ploy to get him to speak. He Tianqing had already known who he was.
Once He Tianqing had finished making the arrangements, he approached Su Shaoying and said, "You can leave now."
Su Shaoying blinked. "Leave?"
He Tianqing spoke indifferently, "Yan Liben is dead. Regardless of the Beggar Chief's intentions for sending you here, it no longer matters. I plan to hand over the Zhu Guangbaoqi Pavilion to the princess of the Great Jinpeng Kingdom. So, what is your purpose for lingering here?"
Su Shaoying's eyes flickered. Did He Tianqing know that Du Gu Yihe would be arriving soon? If he did, why was he asking him to leave? If he didn't, how did he plan to deal with Du Gu Yihe?
Damn it, he hated being in a suspenseful drama where everyone spoke in riddles and the details were always vague. How was he supposed to navigate this situation? Su Shaoying wanted nothing more than to go on a killing spree and blaze through to the end!
"Alright, I'll leave!"
Su Shaoying nodded and immediately set off.
He didn't go looking for Lu Xiaofeng, even though the Market Gang of Seven, the Jinbei Twin Beauties, and the Shanxi Swallow were all quite unique characters. His top priority now was to meet up with his cheap master, Du Gu Yihe.
He Xiu's words to Lu Xiaofeng on both occasions could have been true or false, and he was curious about Du Gu Yihe's take on the matter. He wanted to know if there were any new surprises and if Lu Xiaofeng had uncovered the entire truth.
When eating melons, one should wait for them to ripen; you can't eat half-ripe, unripe melon!
(End of Chapter)
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