https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-328-A-Visitor-from-Unnamed-Island/12536546/
Chapter 327: A Change of Plans, Unforeseen Consequences
Chapter 327: A Change of Plans, Unforeseen Consequences
"News has arrived!"
"Ye Gucheng has changed the date!"
"What?"
"It seems that Baiyun City is under siege by the island lords of the other six islands of the South Sea. Ye Gucheng forcefully suppressed them, but as he has other matters to attend to, he has postponed the duel until the 15th of September."
"Who dares to attack Baiyun City?"
"None other than the six island lords of the South Sea's Seven Islands."
"They must have thought that the Lord of Baiyun City, occupied with his duel against Ximen Chuixue, would be too distracted to notice their scheme. They aimed to take advantage of this opportunity to settle things once and for all, and in the process, create a mental weakness in Ye Gucheng, increasing the likelihood of his defeat at Ximen Chuixue's hands."
"Indeed. If Ye Gucheng were to suffer a mental setback, he would stand no chance against Ximen Chuixue."
"Exactly. Otherwise, if Ye Gucheng were to defeat Ximen Chuixue, the South Sea's group of swords would be reduced to one, and of the Seven Islands, only one would remain."
"They have underestimated Ye Gucheng's strength."
"And the outcome?"
"Needless to say, the South Sea's group of swords has been wiped out. Aside from the Lord of Feiyu Island, who is second only to the Lord of Baiyun City, all the others have perished."
"Is Ye Gucheng that powerful?"
"According to eyewitnesses, the Lord of Baiyun City's Celestial Fairy from Beyond the Heaven technique was otherworldly. His swordplay was divine, and the radiance of his sword shone brilliantly. It was far beyond any mortal technique and certainly beyond the ability of any ordinary person to withstand."
"What about the Three Great Sword Techniques of the Xuanmen Sect?"
"Not a chance!"
"The Wood Daoist of Wudang Mountain's Two Extremes Sword has long since returned to simplicity, but even he admitted that he couldn't break through the Celestial Fairy from Beyond the Heaven technique."
"Since the departure of Master Gu from Bashan, Little Gu Daoist's swordplay is indeed remarkable, but it pales in comparison to that of his elder. Moreover, Kunlun has long since withdrawn from the Central Plains."
"In that case, perhaps the only ones in the world capable of breaking through the Celestial Fairy from Beyond the Heaven technique with their swordplay are Ximen Chuixue and Duguyi He."
"Duguyi He is similar to the Wood Daoist; at over seventy years of age, his inner strength may be profound, but his reactions must have slowed. He may not be a match for Ye Gucheng."
"Then it would seem that the only person in this world who can rival Ye Gucheng is Ximen Chuixue!"
"However, Ximen Chuixue's battle record is not particularly impressive. Some have opened bets, with odds of three to two in favor of Ye Gucheng's victory."
"And the location? Is it still at the peak of Zijing?"
"No, they've agreed to meet in the capital instead of Jiangnan."
"Why the change to the capital?"
"Since Ye Gucheng requested the delay, Ximen Chuixue had the right to choose the new location. Being from the north, he opted for the capital."
"Does that mean we have to rush to the capital now?"
"With the date pushed back by a month, what's the hurry?"
Su Shaoying and Ma Xiuzhen strolled through Jinling City and soon heard this surprising news.
"They actually changed the date?" Ma Xiuzhen frowned.
Su Shaoying nodded. In the original story, it was Ximen Chuixue who altered the timing, but now, Ximen Chuixue had made no such change. In the original narrative, Sun Xiqing had nothing left but Ximen Chuixue, but now she had the support of the renowned Duguyi He and the rising star Su Shaoying.
Thus, the one to take action this time was Ye Gucheng.
If that was the case, why make things so complicated? Why didn't he just set the new location to be the capital directly?
Was he afraid of arousing suspicion? Su Shaoying couldn't quite understand, and moreover, the location was still chosen by Ximen Chuixue.
Of course, Ximen Chuixue was unaware of Ye Gucheng's plans, so Ye Gucheng had predicted that Ximen Chuixue would opt to change the battleground to the capital!
Damn! Ximen Chuixue's thoughts were completely seen through. If not for Ye Gucheng's intention to die in the original story, Ximen Chuixue would have perished on the spot.
Stroking his chin, Su Shaoying wondered, "If Zhang Yingfeng's death and the clay figurine he made are absent this time, would Lu Xiaofeng still be able to discover Ye Gucheng's flaw?"
"If not, that fake Ye Gucheng would be bleeding all over, and Ximen Chuixue wouldn't lift a finger!"
This was getting complicated. Would he ruin the climactic battle at the peak of Zijing by his interference?
Su Shaoying: (...)
"So, Ximen Chuixue might not have come to Jinling at all?" Lu Xiaofeng asked.
Su Shaoying turned to look at Lu Xiaofeng, who was trailing behind them. "What are you doing, following us?"
Lu Xiaofeng sighed. "I was hoping to tag along and meet Ximen Chuixue with you."
If Ximen Chuixue wasn't at Wan Mei Manor, Lu Xiaofeng wouldn't be able to find him. He had assumed that Su Shaoying and Ma Xiuzhen could locate Sun Xiqing, and he could then meet Ximen Chuixue through them.
"You're overthinking it. I didn't see any signs of contact from the Emei Sect in Jinling City," Su Shaoying said.
Lu Xiaofeng nodded. Since Ye Gucheng had changed the date, it meant that Ximen Chuixue hadn't headed south yet, and Ye Gucheng wasn't in Jinling either. Neither of the main protagonists was currently in the city.
"So, you can leave now." Su Shaoying glanced at Lu Xiaofeng.
"No need to rush. Anyway, Ouyang Qing and Xue Bing will be back soon, and we can have a meal together," Lu Xiaofeng said with a mischievous smile.
With his sharp eyes, he could easily see the relationship between Su Shaoying and Ma Xiuzhen.
Of course, he intended to stay and watch the show.
Su Shaoying had shown him so much excitement already; he would regret it for a month if he left now.
Ma Xiuzhen, with her phoenix-like eyes, let out a soft hum, already aware of Lu Xiaofeng's intentions. However, she was also curious to see what kind of person the famous courtesan, Ouyang Qing, was.
Before they could wait for Ouyang Qing and Xue Bing to return from the Red Shoes Society gathering, a middle-aged man approached them.
"May I ask if you are the renowned Lu Xiaofeng?" The man cupped his hands and asked. He was dressed in fine robes, with three strands of beard, a plain face, and an air of nobility.
"Who are you?" Lu Xiaofeng asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I am Nan Guhai," the middle-aged man replied.
Lu Xiaofeng adjusted his expression slightly.
The three great families of Jiangnan: the Golden Nangong, the Silver Ouyang, and the Jade Sima. The Nangong family had flourished for hundreds of years and remained a powerful force in Jinling, as well as a prominent family in the martial arts world.
Su Shaoying had encountered the Nangong family in both the worlds of 'The Sentimental Swordsman and the Cold-Hearted Sword' and 'The Proud Twins'.
And the man before them, Nan Guhai, was the younger brother of the current head of the Nangong family, Nangong Chuan. He was a well-known figure in the martial arts world, and together, the two brothers upheld the prestige of the Nangong family.
"I wonder what business the Nangong family has with me?" Lu Xiaofeng asked curiously.
"I've heard that Lu Xiaofeng is the number one expert in finger force today. So, I would like to invite Lu Xiaofeng to examine a person," Nan Guhai said.
"Who is it?"
"A dead man."
"Who died?"
"Ouyang Yue."
Ouyang Yue, the current head of the Ouyang family, was also a prominent figure in the Jiangnan martial arts world.
Lu Xiaofeng's eyebrows arched slightly, "He's dead?"
"Yes," Nan Guhai nodded.
"How did he die?" Lu Xiaofeng asked.
"He died from a finger force attack," Nan Guhai said calmly. "That's why we would like to invite you to take a look."
(End of Chapter)
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