https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-362-Speculations-about-the-Swordsman-in-White/12536592/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-364-Lu-Xiaofeng-was-Thoroughly-Confused/12536594/
Chapter 363: Attack of the Assassins
Chapter 363: Attack of the Assassins
Su Shaoying sighed, "Your guess makes sense."
Lu Xiaofeng nodded proudly, "Of course, my guess makes sense. The imperial palace houses countless treasures and rare wonders, including miraculous pills and elixirs that can cure poison and heal wounds."
"But would they go as far as to kill us to silence us?" Zhang Yingfeng asked.
Lu Xiaofeng shook his head, "The gambling match between Li Yanbei and Du Tongxuan involved the underground world of the capital and a bet of 2.6 million taels of silver. Who knows how many other secrets are at stake? It's more than enough to buy a few lives."
Zhang Yingfeng's eyes widened, "With that much money, you could buy hundreds of lives, not just a few!"
"But there's something else strange," Lu Xiaofeng stroked his goatee, frowning, "I saw Ye Gucheng last night. He was hiding in a remote temple, still poisoned and looking very weak."
"Then it doesn't make sense if the white-robed swordsman who entered the palace is Ye Gucheng," Lu Xiaofeng scratched his head, perplexed.
"What?" Zhang Yingfeng and Ma Xiuzhen were surprised, especially Ma Xiuzhen, "He was really poisoned?"
Lu Xiaofeng nodded, "You were there in Zhangjiakou and saw it with your own eyes. Even the Honest Monk and Master Sun confirmed it."
Zhang Yingfeng whistled, "Even while suffering from the Tang Clan's poison sand, he still managed to deliver that strike and severely injure Tang Tianrong?"
Lu Xiaofeng nodded. The previous night, he had witnessed Ye Gucheng's weakness, but his sword hand remained steady. He believed that if anyone else had come with malicious intent, Ye Gucheng's 'Heavenly Swordplay' would have been just as deadly.
Ma Xiuzhen asked, "Since this is the case, if Ximen Chuixue is not in the palace, and Ye Gucheng is hiding in a remote temple, poisoned and weak, then who is this mysterious white-robed swordsman?"
Lu Xiaofeng was also curious. Perhaps knowing the identity of this swordsman would unravel the entire mystery.
"Yes, who is this white-robed swordsman, and whose side is he on?"
...
By the time the group left the palace, it was already past noon.
"Let's go find Li Yanbei. I have a few more questions for him," Lu Xiaofeng said.
"What questions?" Su Shaoying asked.
"I want to ask him why he was so certain that Ximen Chuixue would lose!"
Lu Xiaofeng's eyes sparkled, "Ye Gucheng's reputation may be greater than Ximen Chuixue's, but Ximen Chuixue is also an unparalleled swordsman. Otherwise, Ye Gucheng wouldn't have challenged him."
"Li Yanbei and Du Tongxuan's gamble had at least a 40% chance of success," Lu Xiaofeng said, "Although Ye Gucheng revealed his 'Heavenly Swordplay', you managed to dodge it, which gave Li Yanbei some relief."
Su Shaoying continued, "But by the time we returned that night, he had already made a deal with Gu Qingfeng and sold his stake for 1.95 million taels of silver."
"He must have received some information that Ye Gucheng would win and Ximen Chuixue would lose!" Lu Xiaofeng said, "His excuses yesterday were just that—excuses."
"If he didn't want to tell us yesterday, why do you think he'll tell us today?" Su Shaoying asked.
"Because I'm going to ask him!" Lu Xiaofeng asserted, "I saved his life, so he owes me an explanation!"
Su Shaoying hadn't thought of this question because Li Yanbei's behavior in the original novel portrayed him as indecisive, and he had provided an explanation, so Su Shaoying hadn't doubted him.
However, upon further reflection, could a man who had established himself in the capital for twenty years, becoming the northern dragon head, and daring to gamble his entire fortune be so indecisive?
With hidden cards unrevealed, the outcome was uncertain!
If Li Yanbei was truly worried about his wife and child, he had the means to send them away to safety instead of selling everything he had for silver, leaving himself dependent and vulnerable...
Unless he had a compelling reason to sell!
"Was he warned by someone backing Gu Qingfeng?" Zhang Yingfeng speculated.
Ma Xiuzhen shook her head, "After establishing himself in the north for twenty years, do you think he doesn't have any backers in the imperial court?"
Zhang Yingfeng said, "Being close to the emperor is like being close to a tiger. Perhaps something happened to his backer."
Ma Xiuzhen fell silent. When it came to understanding the imperial court, Zhang Yingfeng, as a native of the capital, had far more insight than her.
Su Shaoying couldn't help but sigh again. He never expected that this dejected man, betrayed and killed by his own woman, had a story of his own.
"I hope he's still alive," Su Shaoying sighed.
Lu Xiaofeng turned to look at Su Shaoying, "Why would he be dead?"
"Who did you see this morning at White Cloud Temple?" Su Shaoying asked.
"Those who usually followed him on his patrols," Lu Xiaofeng replied.
"They are now serving Gu Qingfeng," Su Shaoying said.
Lu Xiaofeng's expression changed, "But Li Yanbei has 1.95 million taels of silver."
"Is that enough to take his life?" Su Shaoying asked.
"That's enough to take the lives of his entire family!" Lu Xiaofeng said.
...
When the group arrived at Li Yanbei's 13th mansion, the place was eerily quiet, but a strong, pungent smell of blood permeated the air.
Lu Xiaofeng's eyes narrowed, and with a swift movement, he leaped over the gate and entered the small courtyard with the agility of a flying swallow, his movements smooth and fluid.
Su Shaoying, Zhang Yingfeng, and Ma Xiuzhen were quick to follow, entering the front yard and reaching the living room, where they discovered the source of the bloody smell.
It was not Li Yanbei, but Guan Huihui.
Guan Huihui was sitting at the dining table, her face pale and bloodless. Her empty eyes held an indescribable fear, and rivulets of crimson flowed from her throat, staining her chest. Her chest was still, devoid of any signs of breathing.
"She wasn't killed by Li Yanbei!" Lu Xiaofeng declared immediately.
Li Yanbei practiced Northern External Martial Arts, focusing on powerful punches and kicks, and never used weapons.
Su Shaoying looked at Guan Huihui's throat, still oozing blood, "She just died."
The next moment, chaos erupted.
A figure flashed through the back door of the living room, the screen suddenly toppled over, and the windows on both sides shattered as four figures rushed into the room, attacking the group.
Two lamas and two swordsmen.
The lamas had ugly faces, their left shoulders exposed, and they wore nine rings on their arms. In their hands, they held larger copper rings adorned with sharp spikes. One lama attacked Lu Xiaofeng, while the other targeted Su Shaoying.
The two swordsmen were thin, clad in black, and their long swords were also painted black. The swords, thin and sharp like venomous snakes, aimed for Zhang Yingfeng and Ma Xiuzhen's throats.
(End of Chapter)
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