Chapter 81: Lingxi Finger!

Lu Xiaofeng became involved in this matter because of Hua Manlou, and Hua Manlou became involved because of Shangguan Feiyan.

But in the Jin Peng Dynasty, the one beside them was Shangguan Danfeng; later, when Lu Xiaofeng went to invite Ximen Chuixue, outside the Ten Thousand Plum Villa, Hua Manlou heard Shangguan Feiyan’s singing—but when he approached, only Dugu Fang’s corpse remained, and Shangguan Feiyan had vanished without a trace.

Hua Manlou had always been anxious about Shangguan Feiyan’s safety, and now, here at Gu Qing’s side, he heard her name again.

“How is Shangguan Feiyan?”

Hua Manlou asked urgently.

Since “rescuing” Shangguan Feiyan, Hua Manlou had developed feelings for her unlike any before.

Huo Tianqing watched Hua Manlou’s distress and secretly smiled—Shangguan Feiyan had truly mastered him.

Also secretly smiling in the pond was Shangguan Feiyan herself, now disguised as Shangguan Danfeng; hearing Hua Manlou’s concern, she felt triumphant.

“What could happen to her?”

Gu Qing replied.

Hearing this, Hua Manlou sensed from Gu Qing’s tone that Shangguan Feiyan was unharmed; the urgency he had felt began to fade… He was a naturally detached man, yet Shangguan Feiyan always stirred his heart.

“I don’t know what could happen to her.”

Hua Manlou said calmly: “As long as she’s safe, that’s enough.”

Hua Manlou spoke these words with complete sincerity.

Lu Xiaofeng’s eyes flickered as he asked Gu Qing: “What does Shangguan Feiyan look like?”

Lu Xiaofeng had never seen Shangguan Feiyan’s true face and was curious about the woman who could so deeply affect Hua Manlou; he also found her recent disguises too mysterious.

Gu Qing’s gaze sharpened as he asked: “Are you sincerely asking me?”

“Of course!”

Lu Xiaofeng said. He had once asked “Da Tong Da Zhi” about Gu Qing’s origins—even that information-omniscient monster couldn’t determine Gu Qing’s background—but anyone who sincerely requested something from Gu Qing would almost certainly get it, “Da Tong Da Zhi” was certain.

Lu Xiaofeng had considered bringing Gu Qing into the Jin Peng Dynasty, but uncertain of Gu Qing’s moral alignment and having no prior connection, he had followed his own path.

Today’s meeting was his chance to know Gu Qing better.

“Shangguan Feiyan is, of course, a beauty.”

Gu Qing replied.

Hearing this vague answer, Lu Xiaofeng immediately pressed: “Can you be more specific?”

Lu Xiaofeng knew too many beauties.

“No!”

Gu Qing said firmly: “I’m not some lecherous gossip!”

Lecherous! Gossip!

Gu Qing’s four words struck like thunder into Hua Manlou and Huo Tianqing’s hearts, and even the hidden Shangguan Feiyan in the water winced.

How can you just blurt out everything?

Hua Manlou’s hand holding the wine cup trembled slightly.

Huo Tianqing’s fists clenched tightly; around the banquet, the lotus pond was a clear expanse of green, wind stirring the leaves—Huo Tianqing’s mind formed a picture.

Green green green green green

Green Huo Tianqing green

Green green green green green

He was the greenest of them all.

Lu Xiaofeng glanced at Hua Manlou, then wisely fell silent.

He had asked Gu Qing to describe her appearance—not her body! Now he felt inexplicably sleazy himself.

Gu Qing silently observed the faces around him, especially lingering on Hua Manlou and Huo Tianqing’s; Su Shaoqing and Ma Xingkong beside them were mere bystanders, utterly confused by what was happening.

“How did Shangguan Feiyan get you to come here to make money?”

Huo Tianqing’s voice turned cold as he challenged Gu Qing, ready to pick a fight.

“Let’s set aside the money first.”

Gu Qing, seeing Huo Tianqing’s fury, smiled inwardly; he ignored Huo Tianqing and turned to Lu Xiaofeng: “Watch out!”

Watch out for what?

As Lu Xiaofeng was startled, a long sword suddenly flashed across the table—its aura icy, swift, with no warning at all; in an instant, it sealed off every vital point around Lu Xiaofeng, giving him the suffocating sense that whether he moved or stayed still, death was certain!

Su Shaoqing, whose real name was Su Shaoying, had long trained in Emei’s internal qi methods and sword techniques; he believed himself accomplished—yet merely watching Gu Qing’s swordplay, he felt an overwhelming shadow of helplessness, unable to even draw his own blade.

But how could Lu Xiaofeng just surrender to death?

In that instant, Lu Xiaofeng had no conscious reaction—only the body’s instinct, forged by countless trials; with a sharp “clang,” his two fingers pinched Gu Qing’s sword.

Inconceivably skillful! Inconceivably swift!

In that moment, Lu Xiaofeng felt the liberation of passing from life to death, and from death back to life.

Even Huo Tianqing forgot his green hat for a moment, staring dumbfounded at the clash—he could not describe Gu Qing’s sword technique, nor Lu Xiaofeng’s Lingxi Finger; though it was merely a duel between Gu Qing and Lu Xiaofeng, Huo Tianqing broke into cold sweat.

What a ruthless sword! What a precise finger!

“Good.”

Gu Qing showed no disappointment; he released his sword and said: “I used only three-tenths of my strength. To block this move, you’re already among the rarest of your generation.”

Hua Manlou, hearing this, fell silent… Should Lu Xiaofeng thank him?

Lu Xiaofeng sensed Gu Qing was giving him face, but he also felt Gu Qing hadn’t used his full strength—and had even warned him beforehand; otherwise, that sword thrust might have been fatal.

“What if I hadn’t blocked it?”

Lu Xiaofeng asked, still uneasy.

Because his ultimate skill was Lingxi Finger, every swordsman in the world wanted to test him against it; today’s attack was just another ambush he’d grown used to—but facing death still left him irritable.

“If you hadn’t blocked it, you wouldn’t be Lu Xiaofeng.”

Gu Qing, hearing this exchange, recognized it as a classic Gu Long line and answered without hesitation.

If you can’t block it, you die!

And the dead have no names!

“Your sword is good.”

A figure in pure white suddenly stood atop the winding balustrade, a sword hanging at his waist.

Black. Deadly.

It was Ximen Chuixue.

His gaze passed over the others, fixed on the calm Gu Qing, and he commanded: “Draw your sword!”

Gu Qing’s eyes met Ximen Chuixue’s.

After Yang Guo’s ascension, Gu Qing had wandered mountains and rivers, shedding his aggression and growing more detached; it was then he befriended the Divine Condor, and through sparring with it, he mastered both the internal qi trained amid crashing waves and the swordplay that resembled Du Gu Qiu Bai’s.

The sword he had just used was from the Sword Demon’s techniques.

It was precisely this swordplay that had drawn Ximen Chuixue’s attention.

Gu Qing lifted his sword, stepped calmly out of the pavilion, pointed it at Ximen Chuixue, and waited silently for the attack.

At that moment, Ximen Chuixue sensed the sword intent emanating from Gu Qing; without hesitation, his blade flashed forth—icy, sharp, a killer’s sword, meant to draw blood the moment it was drawn!

In that instant, Gu Qing’s hand holding the sword suddenly relaxed; the blade, which should have parried, drooped toward the ground, while the icy blade was already before his eyes!

“Clang!”

Gu Qing’s left two fingers pinched Ximen Chuixue’s incoming sword!

Lingxi Finger!

“How could you?”

Lu Xiaofeng cried out in shock.

The secret behind it—he had only taught it to Hua Manlou!

“Because I know Qiankun Dafanyi!”

Gu Qing said calmly.

(End of Chapter)