Chapter 747: Meteor, Butterfly, Sword (Part 3)

Chapter 747: Meteor, Butterfly, Sword (Part 3)

"

Sun Yubo's eyes widened suddenly, and his anger erupted like a provoked lion. He reached out and grabbed Nan Gong Yuan's collar.

At the same moment, a figure flashed at the door of the hall, and seven cold stars shot out, aiming directly at Nan Gong Yuan's back heart.

Nan Gong Yuan laughed, then swept his wide sleeves back, rolling up the seven cold stars and making them disappear. In the blink of an eye, he moved and turned behind Sun Yubo.

The next moment, with his vision blocked and his attention drawn by Nan Gong Yuan, Sun Yubo failed to dodge in time. Two black lights penetrated his legs, and four or five strands of light shot towards his chest, but they were blocked by the inner armor he wore under his outer garment.

Sun Yubo grunted and his legs went soft, almost kneeling on the ground.

Nan Gong Yuan grabbed his shoulder and dragged him to a nearby chair, casually pressing on several acupoints on his waist to stop the spread of the poison from the hidden weapons in his legs.

Then, he turned towards the door, where Lu Changchuan had appeared, "I've heard that your hidden weapon skills are among the best in the world, and indeed, they are impressive!"

In an instant, using different techniques, Lu Changchuan unleashed three types of hidden weapons, showcasing his exceptional hidden weapon skills.

"Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeves!" Lu Changchuan stared at Nan Gong Yuan, "I didn't expect Nan Gong Gongzi (Young Master Nan Gong) to hide so deeply."

"I live a comfortable life and have no need to display my martial arts, but that doesn't mean my skills are weak."

Nan Gong Yuan smiled lazily, "You think my martial arts are weak only because your foundation is too weak. Even if you ask the Abbot of Shaolin or the leader of Wudang, they wouldn't dare look down on the Nan Gong Clan, whose martial arts have been passed down for hundreds of years."

Sun Yubo looked at Nan Gong Yuan in surprise, then his gaze towards Lu Changchuan turned angry, "It was you?"

Lu Changchuan couldn't help but clench his teeth, unable to understand how his carefully designed, flawless plan was discovered and revealed by Nan Gong Yuan, and now it was all laid out before Elder Sun.

Sun Jian wasn't dead, and he still had many tricks up his sleeve!

Nan Gong Yuan patted Sun Yubo's shoulder, "You're not a good father. You drove your own daughter away, but Sun Die is a good daughter. She's willing to endure torment rather than let you be in danger."

Sun Yubo was struck as if by lightning, stunned on the spot. His eyes first went blank, then turned to shock, and finally, they filled with boundless pain and regret.

"It's a coincidence that Wan Peng Wang broke his arm, and you injured your leg. I'm sure he'll feel better when he hears about it," Nan Gong Yuan teased Sun Yubo, then turned to Lu Changchuan, "Plus, with your life, the two of you are even."

Lu Changchuan's eyes flashed, and he waved his hands, instantly scattering silver stars towards Nan Gong Yuan and Sun Yubo. Then, he retreated, leaping away.

Nan Gong Yuan didn't retreat but advanced, his wide sleeves fluttering as his inner strength surged, unleashing an unstoppable gust of wind that swept up all the silver stars and pinned them to the beams. Then, he followed Lu Changchuan, leaping out of the door.

At this moment, Lu Changchuan had reached the small courtyard gate and shouted, "Nan Gong Yuan ambushed Elder Sun! Everyone, kill Nan Gong Yuan!"

Seeing Lu Changchuan fleeing and Nan Gong Yuan in pursuit, with Elder Sun still in the room and not coming out to stop them, everyone believed Lu Changchuan's words. The garden instantly erupted.

Dozens of dark lights shot out from the garden ground, and crossbow bolts flew from the tree branches. Hidden blades flashed from the flower beds, and swords were drawn.

Sun Yubo's garden and Wan Peng Wang's Flying Phoenix Fortress were indeed similar—seemingly ordinary on the surface, but filled with hidden dangers!

So, the people from the Flying Phoenix Fortress couldn't stop Nan Gong Yuan, and neither could the people in the garden.

Lu Changchuan glanced back while flying, and he saw Nan Gong Yuan rushing out of the small courtyard like a hurricane, leaving behind a scene of chaos and cries. Yet, not a single strand of his hair was out of place.

Lu Changchuan shouted, "Sun Jian!"

The next moment, a figure leaped over the high wall and descended from above, like a leopard pouncing towards Nan Gong Yuan. He punched rapidly and fiercely, like a cannonball, unstoppable.

Lu Changchuan had just revealed a smile when Nan Gong Yuan turned and deflected Sun Jian, who changed direction and charged directly towards Lu Changchuan.

"You!"

Lu Changchuan couldn't dodge in time and was hit by Sun Jian. They tumbled on the ground like rolling gourds, shaking the small courtyard wall with three tremors before coming to a stop.

Lu Changchuan struggled to push Sun Jian away, and just as he raised his right hand, Nan Gong Yuan appeared before him, pressing on his acupoints.

As for Sun Jian...

He had been struck by Nan Gong Yuan's Flower Receiving Jade technique and was now staring angrily at Nan Gong Yuan, unable to lift even a finger.

Nan Gong Yuan lifted Sun Jian with one hand and Lu Changchuan with the other, returning to Sun Yubo's small courtyard as if strolling leisurely. Dozens of people surrounded them, but none dared to make a move, fearing the consequences.

As he entered the small courtyard, Nan Gong Yuan saw Sun Yubo still sitting in the chair, but now surrounded by several people, all looking at him with apprehension.

Nan Gong Yuan threw Sun Jian aside, "Your son is indeed brave, strong, and powerful, but his character is rash, and his martial arts are rough. He can be considered a formidable general in the army, capable against ordinary people, but he's still a bit lacking when facing true experts."

Sun Jian landed on the ground, and with a quick flip, he stood up, clenching his fists, ready to strike again. He completely ignored Nan Gong Yuan and instead helped Hu Tiehua to unblock his acupoints.

"Come back!" Sun Yubo hurriedly stopped him.

"Dad!" Sun Jian couldn't help but stop, and then he came to Sun Yubo's side. Seeing his pale face, he asked anxiously, "Are you poisoned?"

"I'm fine. I'll apologize to Nan Gong immediately!" Sun Yubo said.

"Huh?" Sun Jian asked in confusion, "Didn't he ambush you?"

"With his martial arts skills, he could kill me anytime he wanted. There was no need for an ambush!" Sun Yubo snorted and then turned to Lu Cha Nu, his eyes flashing with cold light.

Lu Cha Nu's face turned pale, and he dared not look at Sun Yubo.

"Considering he's still your nephew, and he did send me money, just don't torture him," Nan Gong Yuan said indifferently. "Let him die quickly, and that's also considered mercy."

Lu Cha Nu's eyes were filled with panic, and he wanted to speak, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Sun Jian looked at Sun Yubo, then at Nan Gong Yuan, and then at Lu Cha Nu. With a bewildered expression, he asked, "What's going on here?"

Then he saw Nan Gong Yuan slap Lu Cha Nu on the top of his head. Lu Cha Nu's eyes widened, and he immediately died.

Nan Gong Yuan tossed Lu Cha Nu's corpse aside and turned to Sun Yubo with a smile, "This poison will probably take one or two months to heal. I consider this my way of treating you and Ten Thousand Eagles King equally."

Sun Yubo couldn't help but smile bitterly.

He had figured it out. With Nan Gong Yuan's martial arts skills, he could easily block Lu Cha Nu's hidden weapons. He intentionally dodged to use himself as a shield, allowing himself to be poisoned and taught a lesson.

"By the way, I also want something from you," Nan Gong Yuan said.

"What is it?" Sun Yubo asked immediately.

"The deed to Kuaihuo Lin," Nan Gong Yuan replied.

"Alright!" Sun Yubo agreed without asking for a reason and immediately promised.

Nan Gong Yuan nodded in satisfaction and finally reminded him, "Don't disturb your daughter first. She's currently in a relationship with someone who has good character and martial arts skills."

Sun Yubo: ???

...

When Nan Gong Yuan arrived at the fish pond with a beautifully crafted fishing rod, he finally met the protagonist of 'Butterfly and Sword'.

Meng Xinghun was unaware of what had transpired in the garden of Sun Mansion and Flying Phoenix Fortress.

He helped Xiao He deal with some tailing pursuers and returned to Kuaihuo Lin to inquire about Han Tang's whereabouts from Ye Xiang. Then, in order to cut off Sun Yubo's support, he openly came to kill Han Tang.

At that moment, Han Tang and Han Tang were sitting side by side by the fish pond, fishing while chatting and comparing their physical strength and endurance, searching for each other's weaknesses.

Then Nan Gong Yuan brought over a small stool, placed it between Meng Xinghun and Han Tang, and sat down while casting his fishing line, beginning to fish.

Meng Xinghun and Han Tang both fell silent.

Meng Xinghun didn't recognize Nan Gong Yuan, and although Han Tang was familiar with Nan Gong Yuan, he had never spoken to him before and didn't want to talk now. At that moment, he didn't know Nan Gong Yuan's intention, so he naturally remained silent.

But Nan Gong Yuan's first words broke through his defenses.

"The old man's legs were hit by hidden weapons, and he's severely poisoned. He might become disabled," Nan Gong Yuan said softly. "I'm involved."

Han Tang's left hand slashed towards Nan Gong Yuan's neck, and his right hand stabbed towards Nan Gong Yuan's ribs.

Then he was grabbed by the wrist by Nan Gong Yuan, thrown forward, and tossed into the fish pond.

"Plop!"

Han Tang fell into the water and quickly surfaced, his numb eyes revealing shock as he looked at Nan Gong Yuan involuntarily.

"Lu Cha Nu is a traitor. The old man is injured, and I killed Lu Cha Nu to save the old man, but he's poisoned and injured. Sun Mansion's defenses are weak, so you should go help guard it and prevent opportunists from taking advantage," Nan Gong Yuan said with a smile.

Han Tang glared at Nan Gong Yuan for a long moment, then silently climbed out of the water and left without changing his clothes, still wet.

Only then did Nan Gong Yuan turn to Meng Xinghun beside him.

This was not a conspicuous person.

His height was average, his build was average, his appearance was average, and his eyes were average. No matter how you looked at him, he was an ordinary person.

But he was a well-known assassin in the martial arts world in recent years.

Nan Gong Yuan smiled slightly, "Meng Xinghun?"

Meng Xinghun couldn't help but shudder, "You know me?"

When Nan Gong Yuan had casually tossed Han Tang into the fish pond, Meng Xinghun was already shocked.

At that moment, he was separated from Nan Gong Yuan by Han Tang, who didn't hold back. Han Tang's moves were swift, fierce, and accurate, and he was close to Nan Gong Yuan. In almost no time, he reached Nan Gong Yuan's vital points.

Even Meng Xinghun himself might not have been able to resist and could only exchange injuries.

But in such a short time and at such close range, Nan Gong Yuan still managed to grab his wrist with one hand and throw him away before he could get close with the other.

Compared to Han Tang's swift and decisive movements, Nan Gong Yuan's actions were calm and graceful. Although he moved like lightning, each motion was slow and fast, almost leisurely, allowing others to see clearly.

It was because Meng Xinghun clearly understood the martial arts gap between the two that he was even more shocked.

He was thinking about how to deal with the situation when Nan Gong Yuan suddenly revealed his identity.

Meng Xinghun's heart sank.

As an assassin living in secrecy, he was shocked that a stranger had revealed his name, which could only mean trouble. Meng Xinghun was ready to take action at any moment.

Then a piece of paper appeared in his hand.

Meng Xinghun's body stiffened, his pupils contracted, and cold sweat broke out.

In his focused state, a piece of paper was delivered to his hand without a sound. What kind of martial arts skill was this? If it wasn't a piece of paper but a sword, his wrist might have been severed.

But he still didn't speak, neither asking who Nan Gong Yuan was nor inquiring about the paper in his hand. He believed that since Nan Gong Yuan hadn't killed him, he would naturally tell him.

"Sun Mansion and the Twelve Phoenix Gang are the two major factions that have emerged in the Jiangnan region in recent years," Nan Gong Yuan suddenly began to tell a story. "Sun Yubo rose to prominence earlier, but the Twelve Phoenix Gang's rise was faster. When the two forces fully took shape, neither could swallow the other."

Meng Xinghun listened quietly.

Although he didn't understand the meaning of Nan Gong Yuan's words, he was certain that it would eventually involve him.

"Sun Yubo and Ten Thousand Eagles King both have intentions to target each other, but they haven't taken action because neither has a guarantee of victory.

Nan Gong Yuan spoke, "This gave the ambitious man a stage."

"Lu Mantian is Brother Sun Yubo's sworn brother. Lu Chaonan is Lu Mantian's nephew and Sun Yubo's trusted aide. However, they both betrayed Sun Yubo, intending to usurp his position."

Nan Gong Yuan revealed Lu Chaonan's scheme, "But he hasn't learned all of Sun Yubo's secrets yet, and he's also worried about not being able to kill Sun Yubo. Even more so, he fears that killing Sun Yubo would provoke the Twelve Flying Phoenix Gang. So, he colluded with another ambitious man under Wan Peng Wang."

Then, they would plot to trigger a battle between Sun Yubo and Wan Peng Wang, exhausting the gang leader's direct forces and gaining his trust and most crucial secrets, ultimately replacing him."

Meng Xinghun thought of Lu Chaonan's visit to the Flying Phoenix Fortress and Tu Dapeng's journey through Kuaihuolin.

"For Lu Chaonan, he worries that Wan Peng Wang's pressure on Sun Yubo isn't enough, so he plans to add more pressure." Nan Gong Yuan said calmly.

Meng Xinghun couldn't help but sneer, mocking both Lu Chaonan's ambition and Sun Yubo's foolishness.

Nan Gong Yuan continued, "So, he sought out Kuaihuolin's Gao Laoda, asking her to send assassins to assassinate Sun Yubo, giving Sun Yubo enough pressure to earn his trust."

Meng Xinghun's smile froze on his face as a terrifying thought emerged in his mind.

"You guessed right. Gao Laoda and Lu Chaonan colluded, sending assassins not to genuinely assassinate Sun Yubo. If they killed him, his secrets would die with him."

Nan Gong Yuan spoke leisurely, "This assassin is merely a tool, but they need to be formidable enough to pressure Sun Yubo without actually killing him. Then, at the critical moment, Lu Chaonan would expose them, using them as a stepping stone."

"You! Shut! Up!" Meng Xinghun almost bit his words out, barely managing to utter these three words.

"She has already betrayed Xiao He, and now Xiao He's spine has been broken, rendering him completely useless." Nan Gong Yuan interjected.

Meng Xinghun fell silent, believing Nan Gong Yuan wasn't lying.

Although he was also dissatisfied with Xiao He, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow for his fate.

"Do you know what price Lu Chaonan paid to convince Gao Laoda to betray you?" Nan Gong Yuan suddenly asked.

Meng Xinghun froze, unable to resist glancing at the paper in his hand.

"You guessed right again. It's this deed to Kuaihuolin." Nan Gong Yuan smiled, "You know how much Gao Laoda values Kuaihuolin. This deed would give her complete ownership of Kuaihuolin, hitting her weak spot and ultimately convincing her to betray you."

Meng Xinghun looked at the deed in his hand, barely resisting the urge to tear it apart.

"Be careful with it. Don't tear it. It's your life." Nan Gong Yuan reminded him.

"My life?" Meng Xinghun was puzzled.

"You owe Gao Laoda your life. She decided to exchange your life for this paper. If you hand over this paper, wouldn't your life be yours again?" Nan Gong Yuan smiled.

Meng Xinghun's heart skipped a beat, remembering the slender figure in the mist.

Before, he had been tired, but never so strongly desired to break free from Gao Laoda and live for himself.

But ever since he saw that enchanting figure, he felt an impulse to continue living—to live with that figure.

However...

Meng Xinghun turned to Nan Gong Yuan, "Who are you? Why are you giving me a life?"

Nan Gong Yuan glanced at Meng Xinghun, "I'm Nan Gong Yuan of the Nan Gong family."

Meng Xinghun was startled.

The Nan Gong family, one of the great martial arts families, has an uninterrupted lineage spanning centuries, a historical foundation rivaling Shaolin and Wudang.

He had killed many famous figures in the martial world but never the elders of renowned sects or heirs of great martial arts families.

Now, thinking of Nan Gong Yuan's martial prowess, he secretly rejoiced, grateful never to have received such assignments. If those people's skills were half as good as Nan Gong Yuan's, he would have died long ago.

"As the head of the Nan Gong family, do you think I'd covet anything of yours?"

Nan Gong Yuan smiled calmly, "I intervened in the conflict between Sun Mansion and the Twelve Flying Phoenix Gang because I don't want to see Wu Laoda's family annihilated. I don't want to see Wu Xiao and Dai Dai, this loving couple, die an unjust death."

Meng Xinghun had learned about the conflict between the Twelve Flying Phoenix Gang and Sun Mansion when he met Tu Dapeng in Kuaihuolin. Naturally, he also knew the names of the Zhenwu Escort Agency's family.

"Since I've saved Wu Laoda's family, I don't mind saving a killer who's already tired of this life." Nan Gong Yuan held the fishing rod steadily, "I'm a kind person."

"You killed Lu Chaonan?" Meng Xinghun asked suddenly.

"That's right." Nan Gong Yuan nodded.

"But you decided to spare Gao Laoda." Meng Xinghun continued.

Nan Gong Yuan couldn't help but laugh, "Do you want her dead?"

"Of course not!" Meng Xinghun shook his head, "I just..."

"She's not a threat." Nan Gong Yuan said calmly, "Without you few most formidable ones, Kuaihuolin is just an ordinary gold sink."

At this point, Nan Gong Yuan chuckled, "Maybe I'll take care of her business someday. I heard she has a woman named Feng Feng, whom she trained very well."

Meng Xinghun was speechless. The actions of a top martial arts family's heir were truly incomprehensible.

"I've told you the whole truth. Now you can use this deed to reclaim your life." Nan Gong Yuan swung the fishing rod in his hand, "Of course, I have a small expectation of you."

Meng Xinghun carefully folded the deed and placed it in his collar, "What expectation?"

"If you're going to break free, do it completely. Then find someone you love and live a good life." Nan Gong Yuan said, "But don't discard your martial arts skills; they are your means of survival."

A glint of determination shone in Meng Xinghun's eyes, "I will."

"You can go now." Nan Gong Yuan waved his hand, "Don't disturb my fishing."

Meng Xinghun immediately stood up, put down the fishing rod, and turned to leave.

Just as he stepped out of the fish pond's gate, he couldn't help but look back.

In the setting sun's glow, Nan Gong Yuan seemed like a saint radiating golden light.

Then, Meng Xinghun saw Nan Gong Yuan suddenly lift the fishing rod, a large fish hanging from the hook.

"Grilled fish for dinner!"

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C

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end