Chapter 431: Total Control
Chapter 431: Total Control
In the original story, after Lu Xiaofeng entered Yuling Manor, he underwent numerous tests set by Lao Daozi, the alias of Mudao, and eventually gained his trust, allowing him to participate in the "Thunder Plan."
The Thunder Plan involved disguising themselves and hiding in the main hall during the Wudang ceremony on the 13th of April. They would take advantage of the moment the candle flames went out to strike, aiming to kill all of their targets: Shi Yan from Wudang, Tie Jian from Shaolin, Wang Shidai from the Beggar's Sect, Ba Shan Xiao Gu, Yingyan Laoqi, Changjiang Shuifei, and Yandang Gao Xingkong.
The one responsible for their disguises was the only expert in makeup artistry in Yuling Manor—Q Langjun.
Q Langjun, being a sensible person, knew that he might be silenced after being the sole witness to their true identities. Thus, he begged Lu Xiaofeng to bring him along and save his life.
In exchange, he revealed to Lu Xiaofeng the distinctive features of each person he had disguised.
So, Lu Xiaofeng, along with a few others and a dog, left with the last group. They contacted Sikong Xing through a mark and not only passed on some information but also asked him to take Q Langjun away.
At this juncture, Su Shaoying and the other two managed to catch up.
"Hai Qikuo and Gao Tao..." Ouyang Qing clicked her tongue in amazement, "They're well-known figures in the jianghu. This is incredible."
Hai Qikuo, the One-Armed Divine Dragon, was quite a formidable figure in the sea back then. He rose to prominence after Jia Leshan and became another tyrant, wreaking havoc and fearing no one, not even the people of the Eastern Continent.
Of course, due to his activities at sea, he had encountered Nameless Island and even witnessed Gong Jiu's swordplay. As a result, he quickly avoided that forbidden place and only wreaked havoc along the coast. Eventually, he was targeted by Ximen Chixue for indiscriminately killing innocents and had no choice but to join Yuling Manor.
Gao Tao was the hall master of the inner triad of the Phoenix Tail Gang, one of the essential forces that made up the Twelve Linked Docks. Gao Tao's martial arts skills ranked him among the top three in the Twelve Linked Docks.
Unfortunately, his greed got the better of him, and he colluded with Eastern warriors, betraying his country. After being discovered by Yingyan Laoqi, he was expelled from the Twelve Linked Docks and pursued by Ximen Chixue. He eventually faked his own death in a swamp and joined Yuling Manor.
These two men were once powerful figures in their own right a few years ago, undoubtedly qualified to attend the Wudang ceremony. However, a single misstep had led them to this point where they could only lurk in the shadows.
"It's not just those two," Sikong Xing said with a touch of schadenfreude. "In addition to the four Shaolin monks, Du Tiexin, and Guan Tianwu, who you may have already suspected, there's also the leader of the Golden Coin Leopard brothel, Flower Boss, and the Qinling Twin Apes, Lou Laotaipo. Luckily, Yuling Manor underwent an internal strife not long ago; otherwise, you would also have to face the Ghost King, Sikong Dou, and the Lord of Flying Fish Island in the South China Sea, Yu Huan."
"Flower Boss?" Hua Manlou was surprised. "Isn't he dead?"
"No, he's still alive," Sikong Xing laughed. "Is Flower Boss related to your family, Hua Manlou?"
Hua Manlou forced a smile, "Sort of. He's a distant branch of the Hua family, specializing in hidden weapons. He had quite a talent, so the main family invited teachers to instruct him specifically. And he did learn exceptionally well, but..."
"...but after mastering his skills, he acted outrageously and tried to take advantage of your little cousin when he was drunk," Ouyang Qing continued. "He fled after his unsuccessful attempt, and the Hua family offered a bounty of five hundred thousand taels for his capture. Rumor has it that he eventually fell into a deep valley and died."
"But he's obviously still alive and has been taken under Yuling Manor's wing," Su Shaoying realized, surprised to discover that Flower Boss was indeed related to Hua Manlou.
Hua Manlou replied nonchalantly, "Even if his hidden weapons are the best in the world, I'm not afraid of him."
After all, Hua Manlou's favorite weapon, the Flying Cloud Sleeves, was the bane of lightweight hidden weapons like those used by Hua Kui.
Q Langjun, lying quietly on the ground like a large dog, was also skilled in hidden weapons. However, his abilities paled in comparison to Hua Kui's, and against Hua Manlou, he knew he didn't stand a chance.
Ouyang Qing asked Sikong Xing, "How many people came out of Yuling Manor in total?"
"Thirty-one people," Sikong Xing replied. "Not including Lu Xiaofeng, it's thirty. And that doesn't include Lao Daozi, the master of Yuling Manor, whom they call 'Old Knife'."
"Old Knife..." Ouyang Qing shook her head and laughed. "It sounds quite similar to 'Total Control' in an odd way."
"It does sound ordinary," Hua Manlou agreed. "Perhaps that's what he intended."
Su Shaoying glanced at Q Langjun and then asked Sikong Xing, "So, your plan is to take out all thirty of them?"
"Not take them out, but replace them," Sikong Xing clarified. "Since Old Knife isn't among these thirty people, our primary target is still him. Lu Xiaofeng doesn't want to arouse Old Knife's suspicion."
"But these thirty people are all top-notch experts in the jianghu," Ouyang Qing said with a smile. "Who do you plan to use as replacements?"
Sikong Xing looked at the three of them but remained silent, a smile playing on his lips.
Hua Manlou chuckled. "Su Shaoying and I are supposed to attend the Wudang celebration. Do you expect us to be the replacements?"
"Of course not," Sikong Xing laughed. "But Ouyang Qing would be perfect. These sects don't have many female disciples, so she'd fit right in."
"Do you want me to impersonate Liu Qingqing?" Ouyang Qing asked.
"No," Sikong Xing shook his head. "Lu Xiaofeng said that Liu Qingqing is too close to Old Knife, so we can't replace her."
"Then who am I replacing?" Ouyang Qing inquired.
"The housekeeper," Sikong Xing replied.
"The housekeeper? Isn't that Gao Tao?" Ouyang Qing asked.
"Yes, it's Gao Tao," Sikong Xing nodded. "Even though he's a man, he prefers men, and his outward appearance is more like that of a woman."
Ouyang Qing felt a bit queasy and glanced at Q Langjun, who was still lying under the table. "Is there anyone normal in this Yuling Manor?"
"Normal people don't join Yuling Manor," Su Shaoying shook his head.
Ouyang Qing was speechless. What they said made sense, and she had no reason to argue.
But...
"So, you want me to disguise myself as an androgynous monster, hide in the shadows as a replacement, while you guys go to Mount Wudang with the invitations, enjoying the ceremony in the grand hall?" Ouyang Qing asked.
Su Shaoying thought about it. "It does seem like that."
"Are you going or not?" Sikong Xing asked.
Ouyang Qing pouted. "Of course, I'm going! This is too interesting to pass up!"
(End of Chapter)
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