Chapter 420: Master Mu's Gathering
Chapter 420: Master Mu's Gathering
Jian Ji Guan, a quiet room.
When Su Shaoying arrived, he realized he wasn't the first.
In addition to the hosts, Master Mu and Master Gusong, Master Kugua, Xiaoxiang Swordsman Wei Ziyun, and Hua Manlou were already present.
Su Shaoying glanced at the seven teacups on the table and his eyes flickered, "Who else is missing?"
"Sikong Zodiac," Master Mu replied in a low voice.
"Could Master find Sikong Zodiac?" Su Shaoying asked.
"While wandering the rivers and lakes with Master Mu, we happened to come across the markers for finding Sikong Zodiac. We saw him a few days ago, and he promised to come today," Master Gusong explained.
Su Shaoying nodded, first acknowledging Master Bitter Gourd with a nod, then turning to Wei Ziyun, "Congratulations, Wei Xia, on returning to your hometown."
Wei Ziyun shook his head with a bitter smile, "Fortunately, the Emperor didn't hold it against us. I guess I've safely retired now."
The battle at the pinnacle of the Purple Forbidden City had shocked the world. Although the matter of Pingnan King and Ye Gucheng was not publicized, it was not a secret in certain small circles and to those with a keen interest.
While Ye Gucheng's assassination attempt was part of a plan orchestrated by him and Pingnan King, with Wang Zongguan as their inside man, Wei Ziyun, as the leader of the Imperial Guards, should still shoulder some blame.
Of course, he was at fault! And it wasn't a small mistake!
Fortunately, the Emperor was unharmed, and Lu Xiaofeng, who had saved his life, became friends with Wei Ziyun, so the Emperor did not take out his anger or investigate further.
However, Wei Ziyun had made a mistake, and he could not escape punishment entirely.
Coincidentally, Wei Ziyun was also of advanced age, so he took the opportunity to retire. The Emperor went along with it and, as a conciliatory gesture, appointed one of Wei's nephews to serve in the palace. In a few years, this nephew would inherit the title of Xiaoxiang Swordsman.
And so, Wei Ziyun returned to the land of Sanxiang, where his life as a martial arts master was comfortably settled.
"If you ask me, the strict rules of the Imperial Palace are boring. It's much better to be back in the land of Xiaoxiang. I heard that in just half a year since your return, you've already taken three concubines?"
A middle-aged man with shifty eyes suddenly appeared at the door of the quiet room, winking at Wei Ziyun.
Hearing this, Wei Ziyun glared at Sikong Zodiac and warned, "You were also complicit with Pingnan King. Be careful, or I'll notify the Liuli Agency to arrest you!"
Sikong Zodiac was unfazed by the threat and instead smiled cheekily as he patted Su Shaoying's shoulder, "You're here too. I thought you always said you weren't Lu Xiaofeng's friend?"
Su Shaoying held up three fingers, "First, Master Mu invited me, so it wouldn't be appropriate to decline. Second, I wouldn't miss the chance to watch Lu Xiaofeng's antics. And third, while I'm here, I never said I'd help."
Master Mu, Master Bitter Gourd, and Wei Ziyun shook their heads and laughed, knowing the relationship between Su Shaoying and Lu Xiaofeng, they took his words with a pinch of salt.
Master Mu shook his head, his smile fading as he invited Su Shaoying and Sikong Zodiac to take their seats. He then pointed to the pages on the table and said indifferently, "You may take a look at the content."
Su Shaoying and Sikong Zodiac each took a few pages. Sikong Zodiac casually asked, "What is this?"
"These are the profiles of the invisible people from Nameless Island, along with those they've killed," Master Mu replied indifferently.
Su Shaoying's eyebrows rose as he looked down at the paper in his hand.
Name: Feixingzi
Martial Arts: Feixing Knife, known as the best knife in the world
Death: Killed by Jiujian III
Name: Ouyang Yue
Martial Arts: Ouyang family's secret martial arts, a top expert in the world
Death: Killed by a finger knife expert from Nameless Island
Name: Duan Feilong
Martial Arts: Mount Tai Stick, Head of the Duan Family in Qi Lu
Death: All bones in the body were shattered by the shock force of an inner strength expert from Nameless Island
These were the martial arts experts who had died at the hands of the invisible people from Nameless Island.
Name: Palace Master
Martial Arts: Free and Easy Orchid Hand, gentle and swaying, leaving no chance of recovery for those struck by it.
Name: Unknown
Martial Arts: Finger Knife, strange and treacherous, sharp and venomous.
Name: Unknown
Martial Arts: Hunyuan Qigong, a flawless technique, invincible and unstoppable.
These were the hidden experts from Nameless Island who had revealed their skills.
Sikong Zodiac clicked his tongue in amazement, "Lu Xiaofeng has gotten himself into trouble by involving these people."
Su Shaoying laughed and asked Master Mu, "Why didn't you invite the Honest Monk? Lu Xiaofeng's situation has a lot to do with him!"
Master Mu bitterly smiled, "I wanted to, but he ran away faster than a rabbit when he saw me."
Master Bitter Gourd's expression soured as well. Along with the Honest Monk, he was known as one of the Four Divine Monks of Buddhism. With the monk's absence, he had taken it upon himself to come as Lu Xiaofeng's friend.
Hua Manlou shook his head, "Even the Honest Monk didn't expect Gong Jiu to make a move against Lu Xiaofeng. After all, the invisible people of Nameless Island rarely initiate trouble."
Wei Ziyun sighed, "But they didn't expect Lu Xiaofeng to provoke them first."
Sikong Zodiac pouted, "That's why I've always told him that curiosity isn't always a good thing. Look at me; I have no curiosity whatsoever."
Everyone laughed at his words, for it was Sikong Zodiac's lack of curiosity that allowed even villains like Huo Xiu and Jin Jiuling to trust him. They didn't even consider eliminating him, which was a testament to his skill in gaining the trust of the wicked.
However, their smiles soon faded as they remembered that Lu Xiaofeng was currently being pursued by one of the most formidable invisible people.
"For Gong Jiu to be able to chase Lu Xiaofeng, his sword skills must be extraordinary. But is he really comparable to Ximen Chuixue?" Gu Song was perplexed as he looked at Su Shaoying.
Although Hua Manlou had also witnessed Gong Jiu's skills, Su Shaoying, being sighted, must have had a clearer view.
Su Shaoying nodded, "Gong Jiu's sword skills are undoubtedly exceptional, no less than Ye Gucheng before the battle at the pinnacle of the Purple Forbidden City. As for whether he's truly comparable to Ximen Chuixue, we'll have to see them fight."
"So, he certainly has the ability to chase Lu Xiaofeng," Wei Ziyun sighed. "When I was serving in the palace, I met this Taiping King's heir a few times, but I never would have guessed he was such an expert."
"But there's one benefit to dealing with such experts," Master Bitter Gourd suddenly said.
"What benefit?" Sikong Zodiac asked.
"These experts are usually proud and arrogant," Master Bitter Gourd replied calmly. "At the very least, Gong Jiu hasn't involved other experts from Nameless Island in the pursuit of Lu Xiaofeng."
"But the downside is that we've lost their trail," Master Mu lamented.
"Ever since the battle in Jinling, Lu Xiaofeng and Gong Jiu have both disappeared without a trace," Gu Song said. "There's been no news of them in the entire martial arts world."
Su Shaoying smiled, "No news is actually good news, isn't it?"
Hua Manlou nodded, "It means Lu Xiaofeng is still alive, and Gong Jiu hasn't succeeded."
(End of Chapter)
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