https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-414-The-Seventy-Seven-Styles-of-Dual-Sword-and-Blade-Kill/12536644/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-416-A-Game-of-Mutual-Destruction/12536646/
Chapter 415: The Ghostly Manor
Chapter 415: The Ghostly Manor
On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head.
Xu Wen and the Situ brothers, along with over a dozen new disciples of Mount Emei, embarked on a journey to Mount Kunlun.
Yan Renying accompanied them as well. After almost a year of tutelage under Dugu Yihe, his martial arts skills had improved tremendously. This trip to Kunlun was his opportunity to showcase his prowess before the disciples of the Kunlun sect.
Su Shaoying did not join them. After all, Kunlun was quite a distance away, and he was planning to visit Wudang Mountain on the thirteenth of April to witness the excitement there. If he spent too much time in Kunlun and missed the events at Youling Manor, he would be deeply disappointed.
In the original story, the Heavenly Thunder Operation of Yulong Manor, led by Mu Daoren, took place on the thirteenth of April, coinciding with the Wudang sect's grand ceremony where Shi Yan designated his successor.
Su Shaoying was well aware that this year would be the tenth anniversary of Shi Yan Zheren's ascension as the leader of the Wudang sect.
Yes, he merely intended to attend the celebration at Wudang Mountain as a spectator and had no plans to involve himself in the affairs of Youling Manor.
He wasn't foolish. Youling Manor was brimming with experts, including Shi He, Zhong Wugu, and Mu Daoren—each more formidable than the last. They were the kind to kill at the slightest disagreement, and even with Lu Xiaofeng's exceptional acting skills, his chances of survival there were slim.
What business did he have going there?
As Su Shaoying pondered this, Ma Xiuzhen arrived at the peak of Xuanzhen Temple's rear mountain, accompanied by Shi Xiuxue.
"Junior sister, didn't you go down the mountain?" Su Shaoying asked in surprise upon seeing Shi Xiuxue. "Why have you returned? Has Huamanlou found new love? Should senior brother intervene on your behalf?"
Shi Xiuxue scoffed at Su Shaoying, "Do you think Huamanlou is like Lu Xiaofeng, falling in love with every person he meets?"
Su Shaoying blinked, "They grew up together since childhood."
Shi Xiuxue, "...”
"Huamanlou asked me to relay a message to you. He wants you to go to Hankou. He has an important matter to discuss with you," Shi Xiuxue said.
Su Shaoying's eyes flickered, "What's the matter?"
"I don't know. He didn't tell me!" Shi Xiuxue pouted, a bit displeased but not angry. "He only said it was an extremely important matter, and the fewer people who know about it, the lower the risk of exposure."
"Then why is he looking for me?" Su Shaoying asked.
"How should I know!" Shi Xiuxue rolled her eyes.
Ma Xiuzhen smiled and said, "Because you're smart, of course. The Jinpeng Dynasty case, the Embroidered Flower Bandit case, and the Royal Rebellion case—although Lu Xiaofeng was the one who ultimately solved them, your contributions were there for all to see. They must have encountered something they can't handle, so it's only natural that they would think of seeking your help."
At this point, Ma Xiuzhen couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Su Shaoying had recently risen to fame in the martial arts world with his 'One Move to Break Three Swords' technique, and Dugu Yihe's reputation as a formidable opponent was growing with age. The influence of the Emei sect was now on par with that of the Shaolin and Wudang sects.
Su Shaoying calculated the timing and guessed what Huamanlou wanted from him, especially since it was in Hankou.
But why would they look for him?
Hadn't they already thought of a solution?
In the original story, the six additional people they called upon didn't include anyone from the Emei sect... Alright, fine. In the original story, Dugu Yihe, along with the Three Heroes and Four Beauties of Emei, were already gone, so they probably wouldn't be involved for a few more years.
"It's quite unexpected that they would think to seek me out," Su Shaoying smiled.
"They?" Shi Xiuxue was puzzled.
Su Shaoying didn't bother explaining. He stretched leisurely and said, "I've been holed up in Emei for over a month now. It'll be nice to go down the mountain for a change."
Ma Xiuzhen's expression shifted slightly, as she considered joining Su Shaoying. However, since Huamanlou had an important matter to discuss with him and even sent Shi Xiuxue back, she decided it would be best not to tag along.
And so, Su Shaoying once again descended the mountain alone. He boarded a boat and sailed downstream, quickly reaching his destination, where he was received by Huamanlou and led to a small tower.
Su Shaoying looked around and noticed the lush green trees surrounding the area. The tower was filled with blooming flowers, and the fresh air carried a hint of sweet fragrance that was refreshing and pleasant.
"Is this where you met Shangguan Feiyan?" Su Shaoying asked.
Huamanlou sighed, "Yes."
"Is this the place where you reminisce about her, which is why you didn't want my junior sister to come?" Su Shaoying asked with a playful smile. "I didn't expect your feelings for her to run so deep."
Huamanlou gave a bitter smile, "It's not that I deliberately wanted to hide this from Xiuxue, but this matter is indeed of great importance. So far, only five people know about it."
"Who are the five?"
"Me, Lu Xiaofeng, Sikong Zhaixing, Ximen Chuixue, and... Shi Yan!" Huamanlou said in a low voice.
Each of them was renowned and revered in the martial arts world.
"The first four make sense to me since you're all friends who often hang out together. But what about Shi Yan, the leader of the Wudang sect? How did he end up joining your group?" Su Shaoying asked.
"What do you mean, 'how did he end up joining us'? Shi Yan was the first one to approach me!"
The speaker was none other than Lu Xiaofeng, who was lounging in a rocking chair on the tower, with a cup of wine resting on his chest. As he rocked back and forth, the wine remained suspended in the cup, not spilling a drop, thanks to his internal energy.
Su Shaoying walked up to him, took the cup from his chest, and drank it in one go. He then placed the cup on the nearby table and said nonchalantly, "Don't drink while lying down, you might choke. No need to thank me."
Lu Xiaofeng, "... "
"I think you're even more shameless than Sikong Zhaixing now."
Knowing that Su Shaoying wouldn't pour him another cup, Lu Xiaofeng turned over and sat up, immediately pouring himself three more cups of wine to make up for it.
"Are you not afraid that Sikong Zhaixing won't cooperate with you after you set him up like that?" Su Shaoying asked.
Lu Xiaofeng was startled by his words, "How do you know I need Sikong Zhaixing's cooperation?"
Su Shaoying pointed to Huamanlou, "He told me."
Lu Xiaofeng looked at Huamanlou, who smiled and said, "Since we've let Sikong Zhaixing in on such an important matter, we naturally need his cooperation. It's not that hard to figure out, is it?"
Lu Xiaofeng nodded, "Indeed, it's quite obvious."
Su Shaoying asked, feigning ignorance, "But isn't Sikong Zhaixing the behind-the-scenes mastermind's tool? With Huo Xiu, Jin Jiuling, and Pingnan Wang... you still dare to tell him about certain important matters and ask for his cooperation?"
Lu Xiaofeng shook his head, "He will never reveal this."
Su Shaoying smiled, "Because he's your friend?"
Huamanlou spoke up, "Because he has never betrayed Huo Xiu, Jin Jiuling, or Pingnan Wang. His credibility is trustworthy, and this time, the forces involved have nothing to do with his secrets."
"Who is involved this time?" Su Shaoying asked.
Lu Xiaofeng asked, "Have you heard of the 'Ghostly Manor'?"
(End of Chapter)
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