Chapter 439: Our Backup Plan is Mu Daoren
Chapter 439: Our Backup Plan is Mu Daoren
Shi Yan Zhenren's purple gold crown and Seven Star Sword were missing.
Lao Dao Baizi told Lu Xiaofeng that the leaders of the Wudang Sect were all evil and used secrets to threaten the martial arts world. These secrets were hidden in Shi Yan Zhenren's purple gold crown, and Lu Xiaofeng was instructed to take the opportunity of the darkness to steal it.
However, he had deceived Lu Xiaofeng. The secret was not hidden in the purple gold crown but in the Seven Star Sword. Moreover, this secret had nothing to do with other members of the martial arts world and only involved mistakes made by members of the Wudang Sect who had escaped punishment.
This was meant to deter those who had made mistakes and also to serve as a constant reminder to the leader of Wudang.
Thus, Mu Daoren took advantage of Lu Xiaofeng's actions to seize the purple gold crown, while he himself seized the Seven Star Sword when Shi Yan Zhenren raised his hand—of course, he would handle the most important matter himself.
Lu Xiaofeng and the others in the main hall were merely his pawns. His true goal was the Seven Star Sword, and at this moment, his objective had been achieved.
Once this secret file was destroyed, he would be free of restraints. After Shi Yan Zhenren's death, he could succeed as the leader of Wudang!
...
After the lights were lit again, Mu Daoren calmed the crowd in the main hall and personally led a few Wudang disciples in pursuit.
Subsequently, the disciples of Shaolin, Bashan, and the Twelve Linked Waterfront, among other powers, took their leaders and left. The other martial artists who had attended the Wudang ceremony dared not linger and quickly descended the mountain.
Wudang had caused a big stir, and this news would surely spread like wildfire for at least a year!
To be honest, Su Shaoying didn't quite understand why Shi Yan Zhenren chose to handle this matter in such a way. Since he had already suspected Mu Daoren, he could have thought of other ways. Why did Wudang have to make such a big fool of themselves in public?
But when Su Shaoying saw the sadness in Shi Yan Zhenren's eyes, he began to understand. He never expected that Shi Yan Zhenren would stake Wudang's reputation to give Mu Daoren one last chance.
It was a pity that Mu Daoren didn't seem to appreciate it. He didn't back down and still caused trouble during the Wudang celebration, preferring to damage Wudang's reputation to achieve his plans.
Su Shaoying watched the bustling crowd descending the mountain, their hushed whispers filling the air, and couldn't help but shake his head.
This was a classic lose-lose situation.
Shi Yan Zhenren, with his life coming to an end, was impulsive and not a qualified leader. As for Mu Daoren, he had already gone mad, his mind clouded by anger and resentment.
"Mu Daoren is leading a few disciples from his sect to gradually expand the search area. They have left Wudang Mountain," Hua Manlou said, appearing beside Su Shaoying and speaking calmly.
"Lu Xiaofeng sent a message. They will gather at Man Cui Tower in the town of Shiyan," Su Shaoying said.
Hua Manlou nodded. "At midnight tonight."
"How is Shi Yan Zhenren doing?" Su Shaoying asked.
Shi Yan Zhenren was the only one injured tonight, struck in the ribs by Mu Daoren with the Seven Star Sword.
If Mu Daoren hadn't needed to hand over the Seven Star Sword to Shi He, who had arrived before them, causing Shi He to have no time to make a move, Shi Yan Zhenren's injury wouldn't have been so minor.
Of course, if that had happened, Mu Daoren and Shi He would have been exposed. Even if they joined forces, they wouldn't have been able to kill Shi Yan in just a few moves.
"His wounds have been treated and bandaged. It won't affect his actions tonight," Hua Manlou said.
"So, is everyone ready?" Su Shaoying asked.
"That's why I'm here," Hua Manlou smiled.
Thus, they arrived at a secluded courtyard, where Shi Yan Zhenren, already bandaged, Iron Shoulder Master, Wang Shidai, Xiao Gu Dao Ren, Yingyan Lao Qi, Gao Xingkong, Shui Shangfei, and the enthusiastic Long Meng were all waiting.
"My men sent a message. All thirty-one of them have returned to Man Cui Tower," Yingyan Lao Qi said.
"What about Lao Dao Baizi?" Gao Xingkong asked.
"He hasn't shown up yet, but he will eventually appear," Yingyan Lao Qi said.
"Let's go!" Wang Shidai exclaimed happily. He hadn't been involved in such an exciting operation for a long time, and now that everything was under control, he had every reason to be cheerful.
Shi Yan Zhenren's expression was strange, but Mu Daoren remained calm. He smiled and pointed at the group, "I knew you old foxes wouldn't die so easily!"
Iron Shoulder Master exclaimed in surprise, "You guessed it?"
"Of course, I did," Mu Daoren laughed. "The disciples who followed you here are not very good actors. The worry and anxiety they displayed when you were supposedly dying were simply too fake."
The group fell silent, not knowing how to respond.
"I just saw a man in gray clothes and a bamboo hat enter Man Cui Tower. Is he the one you're looking for?" Mu Daoren asked.
"Yes," Iron Shoulder Master nodded.
In fact, Iron Shoulder Master had never doubted Mu Daoren. They had been friends for decades, and although there were often disputes between Shaolin and Wudang, it did not hinder their personal interactions.
They had already felt a bit embarrassed about keeping Mu Daoren in the dark, and now that he had figured it out, there was no need to continue hiding the truth.
Shi Yan Zhenren's face remained calm, revealing no hint of emotion.
Fei Shi Long Meng smiled, his expression one of calm expectation.
Yingyan Lao Qi's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he soon relaxed, seemingly reassured.
The others, like Xiao Gu Daoren, Wang Shidai, and the rest, didn't seem to notice anything amiss. Since Lao Dao Baizi had already entered Man Cui Tower, it meant their plan had been successfully carried out, and at this point, whether they had kept Mu Daoren in the dark or not no longer mattered.
The internal affairs of the Wudang Sect had nothing to do with them.
So, Iron Shoulder Master quickly explained the details of the matter to Mu Daoren, and Su Shaoying and Hua Manlou, who had arrived last, also remained silent.
Hua Manlou sighed softly.
Su Shaoying leaned closer to Hua Manlou and whispered, "Your sixth sense is quite accurate."
Hua Manlou retorted, "Or is it your bad luck?"
"But I didn't bet with you, did I?" Su Shaoying smiled.
"How can you still smile at a time like this?" Hua Manlou asked.
"What does this have to do with me? Why wouldn't I smile?" Su Shaoying laughed.
Hua Manlou was speechless. Indeed, even if Mu Daoren's plan succeeded, Su Shaoying wouldn't be affected in the slightest.
"But it's a pity for Lu Xiaofeng," Su Shaoying said.
Hua Manlou nodded, then fell silent for a moment before adding, "Lu Xiaofeng won't take this lying down."
"What do you think his countermeasure will be?" Su Shaoying asked.
"I don't know," Hua Manlou shook his head. "But his counterattacks are always unexpected and effective."
"But his opponent this time is different," Su Shaoying pointed out.
Hua Manlou remained silent. Indeed, Lu Xiaofeng's opponent this time was unique. Clearly, Mu Daoren had seen through their plan and arranged for a decoy to die in his place.
With that, who could expose him?
As expected, when they arrived at Man Cui Tower and listened quietly to the voices from within, Lu Xiaofeng exposed Lao Dao Baizi's plot.
Lao Dao Baizi revealed Shi Yan Zhenren's illness.
Lao Dao Baizi ordered his men to capture Lu Xiaofeng.
Lu Xiaofeng revealed their plan to switch Shi Yan Zhenren with a decoy.
Just as Lao Dao Baizi desperately tried to assert that his goal had also been achieved, the group entered the basement one by one, leaving only Mu Daoren behind.
In a desperate move, Lao Dao Baizi seized Shi Yan Zhenren.
The next moment, Mu Daoren appeared silently and stabbed Lao Dao Baizi with his sword, killing him.
The bamboo hat fell from Lao Dao Baizi's head, revealing a face that had been flattened—it was Shi He of the Wudang Sect.
Lu Xiaofeng was stunned to see the dead Shi He and the sudden appearance of Mu Daoren.
Su Shaoying smiled at Lu Xiaofeng and said, "Our ace in the hole was Mu Daoren, just in case Lao Dao Baizi tried anything desperate. Are you surprised?"
Lu Xiaofeng: 〣(Δ)
〣
(End of Chapter)
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