https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-422-Suspicions-Towards-Mu-Dao-Ren/12536652/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-424-Hua-Manlou-Begins-to-Have-Doubts/12536654/
Chapter 423: The White Dragon and the Pink Swallow
Chapter 423: The White Dragon and the Pink Swallow
Poyang Lake was vast, offering a unique scenery that differed from that of Dongting Lake.
Instead of mist and haze, there was clear blue sky, reflecting on the azure waters. A gentle breeze blew, signaling the arrival of spring in the south of the Yangtze River. The grass grew tall, and birds chirped merrily as they swooped low over the lake, snatching large fish from the waters before flapping their wings and flying away.
The passenger ship docked by the lakeshore, not at a village or wharf, but amidst a reed marsh and swamp, with dense forests looming in the distance.
They had stopped here merely because they had just caught a grass carp and wanted to gather some dry grass to cook it by the shore.
Just as the fire was lit and the fish soup started to boil, two figures suddenly emerged from the trees.
"I haven't had a decent meal in several days," said a man with an unusually gentle and sweet voice, sounding more like a girl than a man. "Even if that old beast runs deeper into the mountains today, I'm going to have a proper meal first."
Su Shaoying looked up and saw a swift and graceful figure on the left, resembling a low-flying swallow. Emerging from the dense forest, the figure glided towards the shore with agile movements. With a technique called 'Swallow Skimming the Water', the person lightly landed on the deck of the passenger ship.
"What remarkable lightness!" exclaimed Ouyang Qing, surprised by the newcomer's impressive agility. "Why are there experts everywhere we go?"
However, as soon as she recognized the newcomer's attire and appearance, a look of disgust and aversion appeared on her face. She had realized who it was.
It was hard not to recognize him—he had such distinctive features.
His face was as rosy as a maiden's, and he wore a form-fitting pink outfit. By his pink sash hung a pink leather pouch.
Having worked in the brothel for two years, Ouyang Qing could easily discern the lascivious thoughts in the man's eyes, though his gaze was not directed at her but at Su Shaoying and Hua Manlou.
Wan Li Tanhua, the Pink Swallow—a formidable martial artist with a penchant for both men and women and an infamous reputation.
Unconcerned by Ouyang Qing's expression, the Pink Swallow gazed gently at Su Shaoying and Hua Manlou, "I never expected to encounter such handsome young men in the depths of this lake and mountain."
"I advise you not to set your sights on them," came a voice from the shore as another figure appeared. This one, however, did not board the ship. "Our target is that old beast. Let's not complicate matters."
"Why can't I set my sights on them?" The Pink Swallow licked his lips as he looked at Su Shaoying and Hua Manlou. "We've been searching for him in these mountains for over ten days. Why can't I treat myself?"
"Because if you want to treat yourself, I might have to go after that old beast alone," the other person replied nonchalantly.
Su Shaoying turned to look at this person, who, aside from his black hair, was clad entirely in white—pale face, pale hands, a pale sword, and a snowy white outfit. Even his expression was cold and colorless.
If not for his youth and dissimilar appearance, Su Shaoying would have suspected him to be the illegitimate child of Ximen Chuixue.
This person was, of course, Ye Guhong, the Wu Dang White Dragon.
Su Shaoying knew that with the appearance of these two, the plotline of "The Ghostly Manor" in the mountains of Jiangxi Province was about to begin. Their pursuit of Du Gumei would lead them to encounter Lu Xiaofeng, who would be with Du Gumei, indirectly causing her to bring Lu Xiaofeng into the Ghostly Manor.
Su Shaoying had not expected that his trip to Poyang Lake with Ouyang Qing and Hua Manlou would coincide with their mission to assassinate Du Gumei. Could the Ghostly Manor be located not far from Poyang Lake? Hmm, that seemed quite possible. Waterways were usually easier to travel than mountain paths, and with the manor hidden in the canyons, it made sense that it would be close to a water source for easier access.
Su Shaoying nodded, making a mental note of this in his little book.
"Then what did you mean?" Wan Li Tanhua retorted.
"He's saying that you will die by our hands and naturally won't be able to go with him to kill that old beast," Su Shaoying said, poking at the fish meat in the clay pot with his chopsticks as he smiled faintly.
Wan Li Tanhua glanced at the sword by Su Shaoying's side and teased, "Are you threatening me?"
Su Shaoying had no intention of altering the plot, so he said to Ye Guhong, "For the sake of your relation to Ye Gucheng and your status as Mu Daoren's grandson, I'll let him go and won't kill him."
"You won't kill me?" Wan Li Tanhua laughed upon hearing this. "Do you know who I am?"
He, Wan Li Tanhua, also known as the Pink Swallow, had traversed thousands of miles with his exceptional lightwork, comparable to Sikong Zhaixing. His prowess with hidden weapons was second only to the Tang Clan, and usually, it was others who feared him, not the other way around.
Therefore, even though the newcomer seemed to know Ye Gucheng, Wan Li Tanhua had no intention of letting them go, as their relationship was distant and they weren't exactly friends.
Su Shaoying didn't answer but instead looked at Ye Guhong.
Ye Guhong turned to Wan Li Tanhua, as he still didn't want to kill him just yet, and reminded him, "They are Su Shaoying of Emei and Hua Manlou of Jiangnan."
Wan Li Tanhua's eyes lit up at this, "I've long heard that they are exceptional beauties in the martial arts world. Now that I see them, their reputation is well-deserved!"
Ye Guhong, "...'
Su Shaoying, "...'
Hua Manlou, "...'
Ouyang Qing, "...'
Wan Li Tanhua looked at Ye Gucheng, "To be honest, sometimes I even want to sleep with you. But since you are my cousin, if you don't want to watch, you can spend the night in the forest."
Su Shaoying looked at Hua Manlou, incredulous, "Where does he get the confidence that he can take on the three of us?"
Hua Manlou smiled, "Because although he has been in the martial arts world for several years, he has never encountered a true master."
Wan Li Tanhua chuckled, his figure flashed, and he pounced on Hua Manlou, "Then let me see what a true master is!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wan Li Tanhua approached Hua Manlou and extended his finger to strike at his chest.
But Hua Manlou waved his sleeves, and a gust of wind blocked Wan Li Tanhua's attack, and then, along with his arms, he rolled up.
"Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeves?" Wan Li Tanhua was startled, feeling gusts of wind coming from all directions, making it impossible to advance or retreat. He could only flip back, retreating three feet onto the shore away from the passenger ship.
"Hit!"
Wan Li Tanhua's eyes narrowed dangerously as he pulled out a hidden weapon from his leather pouch and threw it, covering Hua Manlou from all angles.
But Hua Manlou waved his sleeves again, rolled up in mid-air, and a fan of flying needles, two flying knives, three flying locust stones, and four iron caltrops all disappeared into his sleeves. With a flick of his sleeves, they scattered and sank into the surrounding lake.
"What?" This time, Wan Li Tanhua was truly shocked. He hadn't expected Hua Manlou to deflect his 'Flower Rain in the Sky' so effortlessly.
In the next moment, Hua Manlou's figure flashed, and he appeared in front of Wan Li Tanhua in an instant, his sleeves swinging again.
"Bang!"
There was a soft sound, and Wan Li Tanhua spat out a mouthful of blood, flipping backward in mid-air. He steadied himself and landed on the ground, quickly retreating into the forest, stumbling once before disappearing from view.
Su Shaoying was still on the deck of the passenger ship and hadn't even touched his sword hilt. He just smiled at Hua Manlou, "You held back again."
(End of Chapter)
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