https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-312-The-People-with-Red-Shoes-Have-Arrived/12536525/
Chapter 311: Su Shaoying, You Ride Horses?
Chapter 311: Su Shaoying, You Ride Horses?
Before Lu Xiaofeng and Su Shaoying could receive any news from Shi Jingmo, they were approached by Meng Wei with a message, "Ah Tu is at home."
Lu Xiaofeng departed with Meng Wei, leaving Su Shaoying waiting at Shi's residence. Soon enough, she was greeted by the arrival of Shi Jingmo, accompanied by none other than Hua Yixuan, the owner of Hua Yuxuan, and his master, Hua Yifan.
"Su Erxia!"
"Doctor Shi! Master Hua!" Su Shaoying rose to greet them respectfully.
Being a renowned physician in the region, and with Hua Yifan's fame in the martial arts world, Su Shaoying, as a descendant of Emei, ensured her etiquette was impeccable.
"Go and see Jin Jiuling now," Hua Yifan said to Shi Jingmo before being helped to sit down in the living room. He then turned to Su Shaoying and asked, "I heard that you, Jin Jiuling, and Lu Xiaofeng came to Nanhai regarding the Embroidery Bandit."
"Indeed." Su Shaoying nodded, her gaze falling on the closed eyes of Hua Yifan, and she couldn't help but sigh.
Hua Yifan and Yan Tieshan, two martial arts celebrities dealing in luxury items, one in the south and the other in the north.
They were by no means minor players in the jianghu; they were extremely prominent figures with exceptional martial arts skills, vast wealth, and always surrounded by experts. Yet, they still met their unfortunate fates—one dead and the other disabled.
This spoke volumes about the cruelty of the martial arts world.
"Do you have any leads?" Hua Yifan inquired.
Hua Yifan was still dressed lavishly, his hair, beard, and nails impeccably groomed. Just a few months ago, he appeared ageless and full of vigor, but now, his old age was evident.
"We have a lead, and Lu Xiaofeng is already on his trail," Su Shaoying replied. "When we catch the culprit, we may need you to bear witness."
"Good!" Hua Yifan agreed decisively, his tone carrying a mix of resentment and fear.
Despite his formidable martial arts skills and the four top-notch experts constantly by his side, the Embroidery Bandit had rendered them all blind.
"With Jin Jiuling injured, do you think Lu Xiaofeng can handle the culprit alone?" Hua Yifan asked, his understanding of Lu Xiaofeng's abilities being limited. "The Embroidery Bandit's martial arts skills are likely on par with those of the Wudang Wooden Daoist."
Hua Yifan, with his wealth, fame, and martial arts prowess, also had a penchant for refined tastes. As a result, he was acquainted with both the Wooden Daoist and Gusong Juren, having even exchanged martial arts insights with them. Due to the Wooden Daoist's modest nature, Hua Yifan believed that the Embroidery Bandit might even surpass him in skill.
"You give him too much credit; he's not as skilled as the Wooden Daoist," Su Shaoying smiled. "Besides, if Lu Xiaofeng can't handle it alone, didn't I say that I'm here too?"
Hua Yifan laughed upon hearing this, "My apologies, I forgot that Su Erxia has already mastered the true teachings of Master Dugong, and you are now the heir to the Emei Sect."
Su Shaoying and Hua Yifan chatted casually while they waited for Shi Jingmo to emerge from the inner chamber.
"Jin Jiuling's timely cessation of breath and Lu Xiaofeng's profound internal skills prevented the poison from invading his heart meridian," Shi Jingmo explained as he exited, followed by two medical attendants supporting Jin Jiuling. "I administered acupuncture and medication, and the poison has mostly been purged. However, it would be best for him to rest for the next few days."
"It seems I won't be of much help then," Jin Jiuling shook his head. "But Lu Xiaofeng never disappoints."
"Let's hope so," Hua Yifan sighed, unable to resist asking Jin Jiuling, "In your opinion, do you think I'll be able to retrieve my seventy scrolls of calligraphy and paintings?"
It was said that Hua Yifan had been sighing a lot lately, lamenting both his eyesight and the loss of his beloved collection.
Su Shaoying finally understood why Hua Yifan had accompanied Shi Jingmo—he was seeking a glimmer of hope from Jin Jiuling.
This was truly...
Jin Jiuling couldn't help but smile bitterly at the question, "I can't guarantee that, considering two months have already passed. It's uncertain whether the Embroidery Bandit has disposed of the stolen goods or not.
...
After seeing Hua Yifan off, Su Shaoying escorted Jin Jiuling back to the Liufan Gate's base in Nanhai.
By then, it was already nightfall, but Lu Xiaofeng and Meng Wei had not returned.
"Are you going to look for Lu Xiaofeng, or are you coming back to Yangcheng with me?" Jin Jiuling asked Su Shaoying.
"I'll go find Lu Xiaofeng. There doesn't seem to be any progress on your end," Su Shaoying replied.
"Gongsun Daniang is no weakling in martial arts, and she's skilled in using poison. Be careful," Jin Jiuling warned.
Su Shaoying sincerely thanked him and then borrowed a horse from one of the Liufan Gate's constables before leisurely leading the horse away from the night market, which was still open.
Jin Jiuling watched Su Shaoying's departing figure, his fingers twitching slightly. But in the end, he didn't make a move because he wasn't sure if Su Shaoying had noticed his slip-up.
"Maybe Lu Xiaofeng was concerned about me, and Su Shaoying was focused on the evidence, so neither of us noticed Meng Wei's slight oddness."
Jin Jiuling racked his brains but couldn't pinpoint anything amiss about Lu Xiaofeng or Su Shaoying, so he decided against making a move on Su Shaoying since they had been together the whole time. If he killed Su Shaoying, he would become the prime suspect.
Besides, Du Gu Yihai was not a reasonable man.
...
Su Shaoying had been with Lu Xiaofeng earlier and had heard Meng Wei mention Ah Tu's location, but he didn't go directly there. Instead, he led his horse into the bustling night market.
He bought a few large steamed buns, a jar of Lingnan rice wine, half a roast chicken, and a pound of beef. After asking the shopkeeper to cut and package the meat, he mounted his horse and slowly made his way to an abandoned brick kiln on the eastern outskirts of the city.
The kiln had holes on all four sides, and there was even a faint light coming from within. However, the surrounding area was too dark for Su Shaoying to make out Lu Xiaofeng and Meng Wei's whereabouts.
But he wasn't in a hurry. He tethered his horse at a short distance away and even wrapped the horse's hooves with cloth, ensuring that he maintained his disguise.
Soon enough, the minor official from the original novel appeared and delivered a yellow cloth bundle to Ah Tu's brick kiln.
After a while, the official left, and after another while, Ah Tu emerged, strolling casually away from the kiln.
The next moment, a figure descended from a nearby tree, using light and graceful qinggong to follow Ah Tu, while another figure who jumped down from the same tree moved with a heavier gait and headed toward the Liufan Gate's base.
"I knew I'd make it in time."
Seeing Ah Tu and Lu Xiaofeng leave one after the other, Su Shaoying mounted his horse and urged it forward with a "kick-clack, kick-clack," falling in behind Lu Xiaofeng.
Lu Xiaofeng, of course, heard the muffled hoofbeats behind him. The sound wasn't loud, but it was distinct. He turned around and saw a rider boldly trailing him in the darkness.
Lu Xiaofeng was both surprised and angry. Wasn't this exposing themselves?
However, Ah Tu in front seemed completely oblivious, continuing to stride forward nonchalantly.
Lu Xiaofeng's eyes darted about, realizing that the rider behind him had chosen their position well. Only he could hear the faint hoofbeats, while Ah Tu in front was just out of earshot.
To keep his target in sight, Lu Xiaofeng had no choice but to steady his mind and sandwich himself between the two, following Ah Tu.
After some thought, Lu Xiaofeng figured out who the rider was.
But the realization only made him angrier. "Damn it, Su Shaoying, you're riding a horse?"
(End of Chapter)
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