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Chapter 302: Waiting for Lu Xiaofeng
Chapter 302: Waiting for Lu Xiaofeng
The matter that Ouyang Qing spoke of was, of course, the annual tea party of the Red Shoes Organization.
Although Su Shaoying didn't know if they changed locations every year, this year's gathering was taking place in Lingnan.
In the original story, Jin Jiuling specially arranged for Lu Xiaofeng to tail Princess Gongsun. He then saw Fourth Lady Ouyang Qing and Fifth Lady Jiang Qingxia at the venue and even gambled with Princess Gongsun, secretly reaching an agreement with her.
Su Shaoying was still thinking about how to observe the tea party of the Red Shoes Organization without arousing hostility when this opportunity presented itself.
As Su Shaoying strolled with a smile towards the entrance of the Western Garden, he spotted an old man with a goatee walking slowly past him and then entering the garden.
Su Shaoying didn't turn back, but he did sniff the air.
"Princess Gongsun is here so early?" Su Shaoying glanced at the sky. "Today is only the fourteenth. Lu Xiaofeng's encounter with Princess Gongsun should be...well, on the night of the full moon, with roasted chestnuts?"
"So, tonight is when Lu Xiaofeng sneaks into the Wang Manor?" Su Shaoying's eyes flickered, and his figure darted towards the direction of the manor.
As soon as Su Shaoying displayed his light work, the old man behind him paused momentarily, a gleam flashing in his eyes, before he turned and walked slowly towards the small building where Ouyang Qing was located.
...
When Su Shaoying returned to the Pingnan Wang Manor, Jin Jiuling and Hua Manlou had already prepared wine and food.
"Such a lavish spread?" Su Shaoying asked, "You've prepared quite a lot. I won't be able to finish all of this!"
Jin Jiuling laughed, "Of course, this isn't prepared for you."
"Lu Xiaofeng has appeared in Yangcheng?" Su Shaoying asked.
Hua Manlou smiled, "Jin's men spotted Lu Xiaofeng and Xue Bing having tea and snacks in the old street of Yangcheng this afternoon."
"So he'll definitely come tonight?" Su Shaoying asked.
"He's not a patient man," Jin Jiuling said.
Su Shaoying's eyes flickered, "What about Ye the City Lord?"
"Bathing, burning incense, fasting, and meditating," Jin Jiuling replied.
Su Shaoying was speechless, "He's as disciplined as Ximen Chuixue?"
Hua Manlou said indifferently, "They are originally similar people."
Shi Xiuxue shook her head, "I even feel he's colder than Ximen Chuixue."
"It's indeed rare to have two peerless swordsmen like them in the same era," Su Shaoying couldn't help but sigh.
Actually, it wasn't that rare at all. In Gu Long's writings, swordsmen were divided into three categories. The first category was of solitary existence, such as Yan Nantian and Xue Yiren. The second category was of those with distinct styles, such as Xie Xiaofeng and Yan Shisan, or Zi Yi and the Man in White. The third category was of those with similar styles, and besides Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng, Ah Fei and Jing Wuming were also a pair.
Of course, there were many other skilled swordsmen, such as Fang Baoyu, Guo Songyang, Xue Xiaoren, Nangong Ping, Bai Yujing, and even Duguyihe and Mu Daoren, but their fame and characteristics weren't as prominent, so Su Shaoying temporarily ignored them.
Hua Manlou turned his head, facing the bright moon outside the window, as if admiring its ethereal glow, "It is rare, but it's not necessarily a good thing."
"The sky has darkened," Shi Xiuxue said.
Jin Jiuling nodded and chuckled, "I also want to see if Lu Xiaofeng can successfully infiltrate the treasury under the tight guard of the Wang Manor."
Su Shaoying said indifferently, "I bet he can't."
Jin Jiuling and Hua Manlou remained silent because they also found it hard to imagine how Lu Xiaofeng could pull it off.
Jin Jiuling sighed, "If even Lu Xiaofeng can't do it, then no one in this world can."
His eyes were fixed on the treasury, and his sword lay ready by his side, always prepared to draw it at a moment's notice.
It must be said that when it came to their attitudes towards the sword, Duguyihe fell short of Ye Gucheng. He was a swordsman, but more so a sect leader. In contrast, Ye Gucheng embodied the very essence of a swordsman, even more so than a city lord.
Of course, this didn't mean that Duguyihe's martial arts skills were inferior to Ye Gucheng's.
Seeing Ye Gucheng's focused state, Shi Xiuxue felt her anxiety rise.
She was a kind person, and although Su Shaoying often teased her, causing her to hold some minor grievances towards Lu Xiaofeng, she ultimately knew that Duguyihe hadn't died. Lu Xiaofeng was a good person, a friend of Hua Manlou, and she didn't want to see Ye Gucheng impale Lu Xiaofeng with his sword.
"Don't worry, City Lord Ye has no intention of killing Lu Xiaofeng," Hua Manlou reassured Shi Xiuxue. "There's no killing intent in him."
Without killing intent, the power of his swordplay would be diminished by a third. Hua Manlou didn't believe that Lu Xiaofeng wouldn't be able to withstand this sword, which contained only seven-tenths of Ye Gucheng's full strength. Moreover, he trusted Wood Daoist's judgment.
"That's truly a shame," Su Shaoying sighed. "A thief who sneaks into the treasury of the Wang Manor should, at the very least, be met with three thousand armored soldiers and five hundred heavy crossbows as backup."
The group fell silent, and even Ye Gucheng glanced at Su Shaoying.
Jin Jiuling smiled bitterly, "Are you talking about an imperial palace? Where would the Pingnan Wang Manor get three thousand armored soldiers and five hundred heavy crossbows?"
"So, you're just going to let him off without any punishment?" Su Shaoying exclaimed in surprise. "This is a serious crime of trespassing into the manor and attempting to enter the treasury. At the very least, a wanted notice should be issued, right?"
"Chief Jin, you were once the head of the Li Fan (Six Panels)
Division. He may be your friend, but you can't bend the law for personal gain!" Su Shaoying said earnestly. "Even if he had informed you beforehand, or sent a message, it would be better than nothing. He's completely disregarding you as the new chief, showing disrespect to City Lord Ye and the Pingnan Wang."
The group fell silent again.
Hua Manlou turned to Shi Xiuxue, "I believe the glory of the Emei Sect will continue for at least another thirty years."
Shi Xiuxue softly laughed, "My master said the same."
Jin Jiuling rubbed his forehead and suggested with a smile, "How about this? If he manages to catch the 'Embroidered Bandit,' his merits will outweigh his crimes. But if he returns empty-handed, I'll issue the wanted notice."
Su Shaoying waved his hand, "Any delay would ruin the fun."
Hua Manlou was in high spirits and laughed, "So, Brother Su, despite your tough talk, you do have confidence in Lu Xiaofeng."
Su Shaoying thought to himself that the 'Embroidered Bandit' was none other than Jin Jiuling. Who would issue the wanted notice then?
However, he didn't say this aloud. Instead, he casually replied, "Whether he can catch the 'Embroidered Bandit' depends on whether the 'Embroidered Bandit' continues his actions or not."
Jin Jiuling asked, "What do you mean?"
"The more he does, the more mistakes he'll make," Su Shaoying implied. "If he disappears now, he might be able to escape this disaster. But if he continues his actions, Lu Xiaofeng might very well catch on to his trail."
Jin Jiuling's eyes flickered, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, "For example, if he sends Sikong Zhaixing to steal that piece of red satin?"
Su Shaoying nodded and sighed, "Exactly."
Jin Jiuling hid his smile and shook his head, "Then, it depends on whether Lu Xiaofeng can catch him or not."
As his words fell, a figure suddenly appeared on the roof of the treasury, not far from where they were.
(End of Chapter)
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