https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-433-The-Differences-Between-Shaolin-and-Wudang/12536673/
Chapter 432: Operation Haunted House
Chapter 432: Operation Haunted House
On the ninth day of April, dark clouds loomed over the desolate mansion in the outskirts, enhancing its dilapidated state. Flaking vermillion lacquer, tightly shut doors, moss-covered walls, and overgrown weeds; in the spring breeze, half-open windows creaked, like the wails of ghostly infants.
"Is this the matrimonial residence of Shen Sanniang and Ye Lingfeng?" Ouyang Qing asked.
"Being disciples of Mu Daoren, Ye Lingfeng, a prominent family in Lingnan, and Shen's family, a well-known clan in Jiangnan, the two families joined forces to build this mansion for them in Xiangyang," Sikong Zhaixing explained.
"Are you sure they'll arrive here today?" Hua Manlou inquired.
"Even if they don't, Lu Xiaofeng will guide them here," replied a burly man with a smile.
"Then we'll still need Su Erxia and Hua Gongzi to step in. We're no match for Hai Qikuo and Gao Tao," flattered a young man.
These two were chosen to replace Hai Qikuo and his cousin. Ever since Lu Xiaofeng spread the news, they had been training for three days, mimicking their targets' personalities and speech patterns. Unless someone was very familiar with the originals, the deception would go unnoticed.
"Actually, we won't need to do anything. Hai Qikuo, Gao Tao, and that cousin aren't a match for Lu Xiaofeng and Sikong Zhaixing," Su Shaoying shook her head.
Despite being top-notch martial artists, in a real fight, they might not last more than a few moves against Lu Xiaofeng.
At that moment, Sikong Zhaixing had transformed into a skinny servant. Due to the recent rain, his face and body were caked in mud, giving him an otherworldly appearance.
"Why are you dressed like that?" Ouyang Qing asked.
"Because I want to scare people," Sikong Zhaixing replied with a laugh, "Since we're not replacing Liu Qingqing, we need to come up with another plan."
"Liu Qingqing is, after all, a woman from the Liu family of Huainan. She had quite a reputation in the martial arts world back then. How could she be scared by your ghost act?" Ouyang Qing countered with a smile.
Sikong Zhaixing's smile froze, "That's because it's still daylight, and we're all together. Wait till sunset when we're alone, and you'll see."
"I'd like to see that," Ouyang Qing said, watching as Sikong Zhaixing took out bottles and jars from his bundle, placing them in conspicuous spots in each room.
"What's that?" Ouyang Qing pointed to a crystal box containing what appeared to be withered flower petals.
"An eye," Sikong Zhaixing replied with an evil grin.
Ouyang Qing's eyes narrowed as she examined it more closely, "This doesn't look like a human eye."
Sikong Zhaixing was taken aback, "How did you know?"
"Because one year, my third sister brought back dozens of eyes, and they looked different from yours," Ouyang Qing explained with a smile.
Sikong Zhaixing's smile froze, and he glanced at Su Shaoying, a look of admiration on his face. He then turned to Ouyang Qing and said, "How about I disguise you, and you can scare Liu Qingqing instead?"
"I don't want to cover myself in mud," Ouyang Qing refused with a shake of her head, her eyes then falling on the bundle in Sikong Zhaixing's hand, "Are you planning to scare Liu Qingqing with that old case?"
"Yes," Sikong Zhaixing nodded.
"Did you prepare ninety-three items?" Ouyang Qing asked.
"No, I only prepared the eyes, nose, ears, and hands and feet, crafted with precision. The rest are just dried cow bones and sheep ribs to create the atmosphere. As long as it gives the right impression, that's enough," Sikong Zhaixing explained.
The burly man and the young man had already been quietly retreating, and if it weren't for hearing Sikong Zhaixing just say that he made these things, they might have turned and run away already.
Ouyang Qing nodded seriously, "Not bad, it's quite similar to the hand my third sister brought last time."
Thus, everyone followed Sikong Zhaixing and walked through the mansion, placing each bottle and jar, pot and box, into every room of the mansion.
"The lamp oil in the rooms has also been prepared, but there's not much oil, it can only burn for a short while," the young man said.
"A short while is enough, that's exactly what we want," Sikong Zhaixing said.
Just then, a spy from the Twelve Linked Docks came to report, "Lu Xiaofeng and his group have turned into the woods, and Liu Qingqing has approached the mansion."
The next moment, there was a knock on the door.
Everyone hid, leaving only Sikong Zhaixing, who smeared some more mud on his face, before slowly going to open the door and letting Liu Qingqing and Lu Xiaofeng's group in.
Liu Qingqing was tired and hungry at the moment, so she didn't pay much attention. In her opinion, with their group of five experts, as long as they didn't expose their identities, they could handle any situation with ease.
But Hai Qikuo, Gao Tao, and his cousin were old hands at this. Upon entering the mansion, they first remained silent, examining their surroundings.
Although they didn't discover anything, their instincts as experts made them feel that something was amiss about this place.
"A remote estate in the wilderness, and only one servant... " Gao Tao looked at the dust on the furniture and whispered, "This place hasn't been inhabited for at least five or six years."
Hai Qikuo looked around and frowned, "The dust on the ground has been swept away. Someone has been here recently!"
As Liu Qingqing spoke with the mud-covered servant, her cousin's eyes shifted, his expression turning gloomy. As someone who often accompanied Mu Daoren, he was naturally aware of Mu Daoren's taboos.
He never expected that they would inadvertently end up in this place!
Just then, Sikong Zhaixing had already told Liu Qingqing the terrifying story of Shen Sanniang and Ye Lingfeng. Liu Qingqing, who didn't believe it, ran into another room.
Sikong Zhaixing immediately followed.
The cousin's expression changed, and he said, "This person is lying. Shen Sanniang's body was collected by the Shen family and buried long ago. How could it still be here?"
"How do you know that?" Lu Xiaofeng asked.
Hai Qikuo and Gao Tao also looked at the cousin.
But of course, the cousin couldn't tell the truth, so he said in a deep voice, "I just know. This person has ulterior motives. There might be an ambush in the mansion. Let's get out of here first!"
As his words fell, the cousin felt a pain in his ribs, and all his strength disappeared, causing him to slowly soften and collapse.
But his eyes were still on Lu Xiaofeng, because the one who had acupunctured him was Lu Xiaofeng, who had quietly approached and pressed his acupuncture point when he was distracted by the conversation.
Hai Qikuo and Gao Tao were startled, but before they could react, they felt movement behind them.
(End of Chapter)
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