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Chapter 38: A Chance Encounter at the Ferry
Chapter 38: A Chance Encounter at the Ferry
Ah Fei turned to Li Xinhuan and asked, "Are you heading back to Xingyun Manor?"
Li Xinhuan sighed, "I really can't think of anywhere else to go."
Ah Fei then looked at You Longsheng, "If you're planning to go home, why are you still lingering here?"
You Longsheng raised an eyebrow, about to suggest that he could pay Xingyun Manor a visit, when he caught Ah Fei's murderous glare. He quickly nodded, "Yes, I'm going home."
Ah Fei's senses were too sharp. If they were any more acute, You Longsheng would have loved to eavesdrop on the conversation at the corner.
...
As You Longsheng watched Li Xinhuan and Ah Fei leave, he tugged on the reins and, alongside Duan Qian and Feng Wan, took a different path.
"Perfect timing to head home for the New Year, Lord You!"
"We've been out for almost a year now. I wonder how the manor is doing!"
You Longsheng had left Cangjian Manor in the spring of this year to embark on his journey through the martial arts world. Now, in the depths of winter, with the New Year approaching, it was time to return home.
He wondered if, in the original storyline, You Longsheng had returned home this year.
As they walked, You Longsheng overheard Duan Qian and Feng Wan chatting beside him.
"Lord You has been incredibly impressive this past year!"
"Absolutely! Dominating Shanxi and shaking Hebei, and even killing Qing Moxiu, Yi Ku. If Lord You were included in the 'Roll of Mighty Warriors', he'd surely be ranked in the top ten!"
"It's a shame that Bai Xiaosheng doesn't seem interested in updating the 'Arsenal Compendium'."
"Indeed. Apart from the broadsword master of Songyang, Guo Songyang, there aren't any swordsmen listed, and his weapon is quite different from a standard longsword."
"Oh, that's right, Lord You. I heard that Elder Bai Xiaosheng was previously at Shaolin Temple. Why didn't you ask him about your potential ranking, given your extraordinary skills?"
You Longsheng turned to glance at Feng Wan, "Bai Xiaosheng is dead."
"Ah?"
Duan Qian and Feng Wan, who had been lodging at a farmhouse at the foot of the mountain instead of staying at Shaolin Temple, were unaware of the significant events that had transpired there.
Of course, You Longsheng had no intention of sharing the temple's secrets with them, so he simply replied, "Bai Xiaosheng met his end at the hands of Li Tanhua's flying dagger. He's now a thing of the past."
Duan Qian and Feng Wan were stunned.
"Li Tanhua really does leave a trail of corpses wherever he goes!"
"Lord You, if possible, I think it's best to keep your distance from Li Tanhua. After all, as you said yourself, all his friends ended up dying because of him!"
You Longsheng, "..."
As Duan Qian and Feng Wan spoke, You Longsheng couldn't help but grit his teeth. In the original story, Li Xinhuan's associates—Sun Tuozi, Tianji Laoren, Guo Songyang, Tie Chuanjia, Lan Xiezi, and Lin Lingling—had all perished.
Apart from Ah Fei, who seemed to have a charmed life, and Lin Shiyin, who remained a background character, everyone else had met a tragic end!
This was simply outrageous!
If he hadn't known the plot beforehand, You Longsheng might have wavered in his resolve. Fortunately, according to the storyline, their next meeting wasn't expected to take place for another two years.
Unless he paid a visit to the courtyard where Ah Fei and Lin Xian'er were "living in seclusion," or sought out Li Xinhuan, who had spent the last two years in a drunken stupor.
With the climax of the Mei Hua Thief incident now concluded, You Longsheng's primary task during this two-year hiatus wasn't to be a mere spectator, but to improve his martial arts skills. After all, there was a Da Huanxi Nu Pusa waiting for him at the next junction.
He recalled that, in his previous life, Shen Zai had already become one of the Da Huanxi Nu Pusa's consorts by the time he reappeared.
You Longsheng had no idea when or where his former self had encountered her, whether it was by chance or if the Da Huanxi Nu Pusa had actively sought him out after hearing of his reputation.
Judging from his predecessor's demeanor and stooped posture in the original story, it seemed that quite some time had passed, and he was on the verge of being completely broken, his spirit crushed.
A shiver ran down Yu Longsheng's spine.
"Holy sht!"
"I need to practice my swordsmanship and light body technique!"
"Fck, just the thought of being crushed under a few hundred pounds of fat is enough to make me want to die!"
"No wonder my predecessor died as soon as he was pinned down. I bet he had been crushed countless times before, his bones weakened and brittle!"
At this moment, Yu Longsheng had already made significant progress in his martial arts journey. He had learned from Ah Fei, sought guidance from Li Xinhuan, fought against Yi Ku, and crossed swords with Bai Xiaosheng.
Compared to his past self, Yu Longsheng's actual combat prowess had far surpassed him. However, it was still insufficient to take on the Da Huanxi Nu Pusa.
Yu Longsheng patted his chest, where he kept his treasure from Shaolin Temple—the Seven Marvel Scripture.
"I might have to rely on you to defeat her," he muttered to himself.
Yu Longsheng's eyes flickered with uncertainty as he wondered, "With her layers of fat, the Da Huanxi Nu Pusa fearlessly rampages without restraint. I wonder if she's afraid of poison?
"Fck, she's the godmother of the Five Poison Boy, isn't she?"
"Damn it!"
...
Yu Longsheng shook his head, banishing the vague image of a hideous fat pig from his mind. Then he realized that he, Duan Qian, and Feng Wan had already arrived at the ancient cypress ferry crossing of the Yellow River.
"Lord You, I'll go look for a boat," Duan Qian offered.
"Let's wait until tomorrow morning. We'll definitely find a ferry at the crossing then," Yu Longsheng suggested. "For now, let's find an inn to stay for the night."
The three of them rode their horses swiftly, covering nearly a hundred miles in half a day. They managed to reach the Yellow River ferry crossing just before dusk.
The ancient cypress ferry crossing was located between Kaifeng and Luoyang, surrounded by nearby states and counties, making it a bustling area. However, due to the cold weather, deep snow, and difficult travel conditions, many merchants were crowded at the crossing, filling the inn's guest rooms.
After much effort and expense, the trio managed to secure two guest rooms for themselves. Once they had settled in, they made their way to the inn's lobby and took a seat at an empty table, ordering some dishes from the waiter.
Duan Qian and Feng Wan were veterans of the jianghu as well. They sat on either side of Yu Longsheng, scanning the lobby with experienced eyes, taking note of the other guests.
Most of the patrons were traveling merchants, peddlers, and craftsmen. However, there were also three tables occupied by jianghu practitioners.
One table was occupied by three burly men, their long knives resting on the table, their feet clad in straw sandals despite the winter chill.
At another table, six men of varying heights and builds were noisily eating and drinking, their voices filling the room.
The last table was occupied by a man and a woman. The man wore a blue robe, his handsome features suggesting he was in his thirties. The woman, on the other hand, was dressed in white, her face obscured by a black veil hanging from her straw hat. Her figure, however, was alluring.
As Duan Qian and Feng Wan observed others, they, too, were being observed. The six men, the three knife-wielding men, and the couple all spared a glance at Yu Longsheng's table.
"Lord You, that couple is likely to be experts," Duan Qian whispered.
Yu Longsheng nodded, his gaze sweeping over the three knife-wielding men before settling on the other table.
At that table, two peddlers were drinking, a girl in red was eating noodles, and an old man in a blue cloth robe was leisurely smoking a pipe.
(End of Chapter)
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