Chapter 144: A Person Must Consciously Endure Hardship

Maple Forest Town.

Gu Qing dismounted here, surveying the town—a quiet, peaceful place where Fei and Lin Xian'er had lived for two years. Though Lin Xian'er had hidden herself away, her reputation still drew clients.

Following the information provided by Sun Xiaohong, Gu Qing headed toward Fei's home.

Dusk, again dusk—the sunset was intoxicating.

When Gu Qing arrived, Fei and Lin Xian'er were packing their belongings. Seeing a stranger suddenly appear at the door, Fei turned, his gaze steady and calm; Lin Xian'er lightly covered her mouth, startled.

This was Gu Qing's first time seeing Lin Xian'er's face directly.

Her eyes sparkled with vitality; her entire demeanor was both lively and serene, and every detail of her was beautiful—no matter how critical the gaze, not a single flaw could be found on Lin Xian'er.

"Little Fei…"

Lin Xian'er hid behind Fei, peering out slightly from one side, her bright eyes curious about Gu Qing.

"I'm a friend of Li Xunhuan."

Gu Qing turned his gaze to Fei. The current Fei was dull and slow; upon hearing he was Li Xunhuan's friend, he looked startled.

Not long ago, Fei had met Li Xunhuan—and after that meeting, Lin Xian'er had insisted they flee… because Li Xunhuan carried too much trouble, which would disrupt their peaceful life.

Lin Xian'er had said so, and Fei believed her.

"We're leaving."

Fei said, his voice heavy with sorrow.

Since being with Lin Xian'er, Fei had cut off all contact with the outside world—he was deeply lonely.

Gu Qing nodded. Fei was the son of Shen Lang and Bai Feifei. Years ago, Bai Feifei, owing Zhu Qiqi a favor, could not compete with her for Shen Lang's affection. Thus, in raising Fei, she instilled in him that he must never owe anyone a debt.

But two years ago, during the Plum Bandit affair, Lin Xian'er had saved Fei—and he had since owed her a debt. That single debt trapped him completely.

"Can we become friends?"

Gu Qing said to Fei.

Fei smiled—rarely did he smile. He had been too lonely for too long, and hearing Gu Qing was Li Xunhuan's friend, he nodded. "Of course! Next time we meet, I'll buy you wine!"

Gu Qing nodded. "I never owe anyone. Next time we meet, I'll make sure you're well taken care of."

Fei took Lin Xian'er's hand; the two, with their bundles, departed.

Before leaving, Lin Xian'er turned back several times, her gaze filled with emotion… She had already heard of Gu Qing's name from Shangguan Fei and knew of his actions against the Money Gang. Thus, while curious about him, she also sensed his appearance might be an unpredictable variable in her plans.

Gu Qing met Lin Xian'er's gaze and smiled.

Lin Xian'er understood at once.

Li Xunhuan and Guo Songyang sat facing each other, raising their cups to drink.

Li Xunhuan had come here to find Fei, but after two years apart, Fei's hand had slowed, his heart deeply lonely, and the Plum Bandit case remained unresolved… Li Xunhuan had also discovered Lin Xian'er secretly bedding other men—several of them.

Guo Songyang had just stepped out of Lin Xian'er's room.

"I've known her a long time."

Guo Songyang said: "Whenever I'm in low spirits, I come to see her."

And then his mood would lift.

"But this time, I'm unusually depressed."

As he spoke, Guo Songyang drew his sword scabbard and placed it on the table for Li Xunhuan to examine.

The scabbard bore nine scratches, each curved like a sword's arc. Recalling Guo Songyang's swordplay, Li Xunhuan could tell at once: all nine marks were deliberate strikes aimed precisely at Guo Songyang's techniques.

"I never imagined my sword techniques could be so cleanly and clearly broken. For days, I've agonized over how to counter such moves—the more I think, the more my head aches."

Guo Songyang smiled bitterly. "Perhaps only by forgetting all forms can I face Gu Qing's techniques."

Li Xunhuan's fingertip traced the scabbard. "No form, no sword—that is already the realm of martial arts. Brother Guo may use these marks to glimpse the highest pinnacle of the sword Dao."

"Indeed."

Gu Qing's voice came: "A person must consciously endure hardship."

Gu Qing spoke as if whispering, and before the sentence ended, he had already appeared beside them, seating himself without invitation and joining the drinking. To preempt Li Xunhuan from asking about Long Xiaoyun, he spoke first: "Take Li Tanhua, for example—why abandon a good life to give Lin Shiyin and Zhuangzi to Long Xiaoyun, then flee to the frontier to suffer? Only then did your flying dagger gain its spirit."

At the mention of old wounds, Li Xunhuan choked on his wine and began coughing.

Guo Songyang, seeing Gu Qing, suddenly lost his appetite for wine.

"There's something I'd like you to help me with."

Li Xunhuan looked at Guo Songyang—he wanted Guo Songyang to confront Fei and expose Lin Xian'er's infidelity, forcing Fei to break with her.

"Done!"

Guo Songyang agreed without hesitation.

"But Fei and Lin Xian'er have already left."

Gu Qing said: "When I arrived, I just happened to see the two of them packing and departing."

Li Xunhuan hurried with Guo Songyang to Lin Xian'er's wooden cottage—naturally, it was empty.

Beneath Lin Xian'er's bed, Li Xunhuan found a hidden passage. Following it, he reached another house, where a young girl sat holding a challenge letter.

A challenge from Shangguan JinHong to Li Xunhuan.

The duel is set for the first day of the tenth month.

Li Xunhuan's heart clenched. He had no confidence in facing Shangguan JinHong—and if he died, many unfinished matters would remain unresolved.

"Must you accept every challenge letter someone sends you?"

Gu Qing looked at the letter and asked Li Xunhuan.

Li Xunhuan nodded. "As a man of the Jianghu… and Little Li's Flying Dagger has fought over three hundred duels…"

He had meant to say he had never retreated—but instantly recalled Guo Songyang's recent defeat, and left the sentence unfinished.

Gu Qing smiled.

This challenge letter was not written by Shangguan JinHong—it was written by Lin Xian'er. She had simultaneously challenged both Shangguan JinHong and Li Xunhuan, setting this trap to ensure Li Xunhuan's death.

Only if Li Xunhuan died could Lin Xian'er reemerge into the Jianghu.

The duel date—early tenth month—was six days away, meant to give Shangguan JinHong time to travel here.

"I actually have several ways to ensure you win."

Gu Qing said.

Li Xunhuan stared at Gu Qing in surprise.

"Horseback combat!"

(End of Chapter)