https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-442-The-Reappearance-of-the-Old-Blade/12536682/
Chapter 441: Choosing a Table First
Chapter 441: Choosing a Table First
In the original story, Lu Xiaofeng had met the General, injured him, and then the General had seemingly met his end at the hands of Dugu Mei.
Lu Xiaofeng sighed. He should have guessed that the General had only feigned his death. After all, Dugu Mei herself was an undercover agent of Mu Daoren within the Wudang Sect. How could she possibly have killed the General for real?
The only reason the General had staged his death was to distance himself from Lu Xiaofeng, whose keen intellect made him a potential threat. Mu Daoren hadn't anticipated that the General would end up uncovering the Eagle's Nest's plans.
However, Lu Xiaofeng had no way to prove his suspicions. He had been the only one to infiltrate the Ghost Manor, and he had no evidence to support his claim that Long Meng was the General. The General's identity was not something that could be questioned lightly.
Once again, the group fell into silence.
Only Su Shaoying remained oblivious to the tension, enjoying the spectacle as if he were watching a play. If the Eagle's Nest had provided snacks, he would have happily munched away.
Hua Manlou nudged Su Shaoying's arm. "Don't you have something to say?"
"What could I possibly say?" Su Shaoying asked.
"You bet me last time that Mu Daoren wouldn't be exposed last night. Did you foresee this?" Hua Manlou inquired.
All eyes turned to Su Shaoying, and Lu Xiaofeng was about to jump out of his seat. "You knew this would happen?"
"No, I didn't! Don't spread baseless rumors!" Su Shaoying quickly denied. "I'm no Zhuge Liang; how could I possibly predict something like this?"
"Then why did you make that bet with me?" Hua Manlou asked.
"Because the plan was going too smoothly," Su Shaoying replied. "Lao Daozi built up such a massive power base in the Ghost Manor. It seemed too easy for him to be exposed."
Lu Xiaofeng fixed Su Shaoying with an intense gaze. He didn't believe that Su Shaoying would make such a bet based on such a simple reason. But seeing his nonchalant attitude now, could he have another trick up his sleeve?
"Is there really nothing we can do now?" Gao Xingkong voiced the question on everyone's mind, including Lu Xiaofeng's.
But it was Tie Jian who answered, his voice grave. "There is only one way to prove whether Lu Xiaofeng's speculation is correct."
"What way is that?" Ba Shan Xiao asked.
Tie Jian decided to ask Shi Yan whether the hilt of the Seven Star Sword contained any secrets related to Mu Daoren. However, just then, Wang Shidai appeared and informed them that Shi Yan had passed away without leaving a will.
According to the rules of the Wudang Sect, the person to succeed the position of the sect leader was none other than Mu Daoren! Although Wang Shidai relayed Shi Yan's last words—"Lu Xiaofeng's guess is correct"—it was too late. Nothing could stop Mu Daoren from becoming the leader of Wudang now, and his secrets, along with those of the Ghost Manor, would be buried in the dust.
...
As they bid farewell to Tie Jian, Wang Shidai, and the others, only Lu Xiaofeng and his two companions remained in the Eagle's Nest.
Su Shaoying asked Lu Xiaofeng, "Are you planning to go find Long Meng?"
"Yes, Long Meng is the General," Lu Xiaofeng confirmed, filling Su Shaoying and Hua Manlou in on what he had witnessed at the Ghost Manor. "Because of the General's important position, and Mu Daoren's uncertainty about my situation, they staged the General's death to remove him from the picture."
"But do you think the General will cooperate with you?" Hua Manlou asked.
"Whether he cooperates or not, I have to see him," Lu Xiaofeng said through gritted teeth.
He was not one to give up easily. Although Tie Jian, Wang Shidai, and the others seemed to have resigned themselves to the situation, as the threat against them had been eliminated, even if Mu Daoren was Lao Daozi, he would not target them once he became the leader of Wudang.
Su Shaoying spread his hands helplessly. "Everyone present was our senior, and all suspicions about Mu Daoren were baseless speculations. Besides, do you think I would make the same mistake after seeing how you targeted my master last year?"
Lu Xiaofeng could only sigh in response.
"I know, I know," he conceded. "That's why I must find evidence that Mu Daoren is indeed Lao Daozi. If I can't get it from Long Meng, then I'll go to my cousin."
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Hua Manlou asked.
"You and Su Shaoying go to the cellar of Lingfeng Manor," Lu Xiaofeng instructed. "I'm worried that Mu Daoren might send someone to release those people, and if they are set free, things will get complicated."
Hua Manlou frowned. "Shouldn't we come with you to find Long Meng?"
"No," Lu Xiaofeng shook his head. "If I go alone, he might still give me some clues, but if you two come with me, he definitely won't say anything!"
Hua Manlou nodded in agreement. "Alright!"
"I suggest you hurry," Su Shaoying advised.
"Why?" Lu Xiaofeng asked.
"Because Mu Daoren clearly knows that you've uncovered Long Meng's identity," Su Shaoying explained. "Do you think he'll silence him to cover his tracks?"
"But I have no evidence," Lu Xiaofeng countered. "Why would he bother with silencing anyone?"
"Is Long Meng a friend of Mu Daoren?" Su Shaoying inquired.
"Of course, he's Mu Daoren's friend; otherwise, how could he have joined the Ghost Manor?" Lu Xiaofeng retorted. "What kind of question is that?"
"But now that the Ghost Manor is no more and Mu Daoren is about to become the leader of Wudang, things are different," Su Shaoying pointed out.
With a calm expression, Su Shaoying continued, "Mu Daoren was willing to disrupt the Wudang celebration to obtain the secret that compromised him. But now he has a new secret, one that Long Meng holds over him. Do you think he trusts Long Meng?"
Hua Manlou and Lu Xiaofeng's faces paled at the implication.
"Hurry!" Hua Manlou urged. "If we're too late, he'll be dead!"
And so, Lu Xiaofeng rushed off. He had just learned from Ba Shan Xiao Gu that Long Meng had not returned to Wudang but was currently in the town of Shiyan, at the Quanfa Building.
Hua Manlou turned to Su Shaoying and asked, "Will you come with me to Lingfeng Manor?"
"No," Su Shaoying shook his head. "I suggest you don't go either."
"Why not?" Hua Manlou inquired.
"Because Mu Daoren won't leave such an obvious loophole," Su Shaoying explained. "Those people have either already been released or silenced."
"So what do we do now?" Hua Manlou asked.
"We go back to the Hua Family Estate," Su Shaoying replied.
Hua Manlou looked puzzled. "Why would we do that?"
"To choose a table," Su Shaoying said, "one that's identical to the one in your tower in Hankou."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
