Chapter 319

Because his home was on Mount Xiqiao, Lin Zisheng knew many people from the Nanhai Sword Sect and was familiar with many in the sect. Upon reaching the southern foot of Upper Boundary Peak and entering the Moon-Inviting Hall, he saw many people waiting outside the main hall, mostly disciples and deacons from the Upper Boundary Peak lineage of the Fushan Sect.

He leaned over, found Zhao Ru, and bowed to report: "Senior Brother Zhao, there is someone outside the mountain gate claiming to be a relative of Senior Su Shidi of the Nanhai Sword Sect..."

Zhao Ru blinked: "Who?"

Lin Zisheng whispered: "Su Jing... Su Jing, a disciple under the seat of the White Sword Master."

Zhao Ru looked up at the few people watching fish by the pond not far away, walked over quickly, and greeted: "Lin Shijie..."

These few people watching the fish were indeed disciples of the Nanhai Sword Sect. The leading Lin Shijie was already at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and her pair of Twin Fish Blood Needle Swords were very famous; the Lingnan cultivation world called her Lin Shuangyu.

Lin Shuangyu heard Zhao Ru's inquiry and immediately said: "It is true that I have heard Senior Su Shidi mention that he had such a brother-in-law who married into the Shenwu Villa, but he was divorced by his wife many years ago. When Senior Su Shidi heard about this at the time, he even made a special trip back to Shenwu Villa... but Senior Su Shidi is now far away on Mount Xiqiao, so I don't know if this person is genuine or not."

Hearing that he had married into the family and was divorced, Zhao Ru was displeased. He secretly thought that this person was likely not a fake, but he must be here to beg for favors. He immediately asked: "Since no one recognizes him, should we drive him away?"

Lin Shuangyu thought for a moment and said: "Let him wait for now; I will ask when we go down the mountain."

Zhao Ru nodded and instructed Chen Zisheng: "Go, let him wait."

After talking for a long time in the Moon-Inviting Hall, the hall doors opened wide, and five people walked out. Among these five, two were the Great Elder Lin Changbi and the Second Elder Wu Changqing of the Nanhai Sword Sect, and the other three were the hosts: Elder Lu of Upper Boundary Peak, Elder Jiang of Fragrant Terrace Peak, and Elder Huang of Meeting Truth Peak.

The three elders sent the Nanhai Sword Sect members to the guest hall to rest before taking their leave. Only then did Lin Shuangyu get the chance to ask the two elders about today's discussion.

Lin Changbi shook his head and said: "The situation is not good. Although Elder Lu of Upper Boundary Peak is inclined toward us, Fragrant Terrace Peak and Meeting Truth Peak do not quite agree. Even the three southwestern peaks cannot reach a consensus, let alone the Southern Sect, not to mention the entire Mount Luo Fu."

Wu Changqing asked: "Lady Lin, how did your private inquiries go?"

Lin Shuangyu replied: "Disciple asked seven people in succession: three inner-sect disciples from various peaks, two inner-sect deacons, and two outer-sect disciples. The results were about the same as what Master and Uncle discussed; few support this proposal, only two."

Wu Changqing shook his head: "The Luo Fu Sect has been stable for a hundred years and has grown accustomed to comfort..."

Lin Changbi said: "Su Shidi, be careful with your words. The Luo Fu Sect is powerful; even if they remain comfortable for another five hundred years, I fear no one would dare to covet this mountain. Of course, they have no need to fight. We knew this point when we left Mount Xiqiao."

The three were silent for a long time before Wu Changqing said: "Tonight, I will visit Iron Bridge Peak again!"

After the major matters were discussed, Lin Shuangyu reported that someone was waiting outside the mountain gate. Lin Changbi said: "This is Su Shidi White's family matter. How to deal with it should be decided by Su Shidi White himself; it is not appropriate for us to interfere too much."

Lin Shuangyu said: "Teacher, disciple remembers that Senior Su Shidi and this brother-in-law of his were very close. I heard that his life was saved by this brother-in-law. When he heard that his sister had divorced her husband, Senior Su Shidi rushed back to Shenwu Villa in a rage and caused a huge scene."

Wu Changqing listened curiously from the side: "There is such a thing? Then why did his sister divorce her husband? Could it be that Junior Nephew Su and his sister are not on good terms?"

Lin Changbi waved his hand: "Still the same saying, let's interfere less in other people's family matters... How about this, you go and see if it's true or false first."

Having received the order, Lin Shuangyu came out of the guest hall and went straight to the mountain gate. She saw Lin Zisheng at the gate and asked: "Where is the person?"

Lin Zisheng led her out, and under a tree shade about twenty *zhang* away from the mountain gate, she saw Liu Xiaolou.

Liu Xiaolou stood up and cupped his hands: "I wonder if this..."

Lin Zisheng introduced: "This is Lin Shijie of the Nanhai Sword Sect."

Lin Shuangyu asked: "You are Senior Su Shidi's brother-in-law?"

Liu Xiaolou replied: "I am ashamed."

Lin Shuangyu looked him up and down. Even though she was past the age of forty and was a late Foundation Establishment cultivator with a gradually strengthening mind, she couldn't help but secretly praise him in her heart: he truly had a good appearance!

Immediately, she thought, this fellow had such a good appearance, yet he was still divorced by the Su family woman. Why was that?

Could it be that he really was just a good appearance?

Of course, none of this was her business. She was just here to see if he was genuine, so she asked: "In which year did you and Senior Su Shidi meet?"

Liu Xiaolou recalled: "That was the second year after I married into the Su family. The thirteenth young master returned to the mountain from the South Sea to visit his family and came to the door, so we met. Nine years have passed in a flash, it really is..."

Not giving him time to be sentimental, Lin Shuangyu pressed: "Did he return to Shenwu Villa by himself?"

Liu Xiaolou said: "There was also Elder White from your sect."

Lin Shuangyu asked a few more questions, all of which Liu Xiaolou answered correctly. Afterward, he took out the divorce letter he had kept properly from his storage bag and showed it to Lin Shuangyu: "Lin... Lin Shijie, please take a look."

Lin Shuangyu took the divorce letter and curiously read it three times. She didn't know why she suddenly wanted to laugh, but she couldn't. She sighed softly and returned the letter: "Senior Su Shidi and I have a very deep relationship and talk about everything. He has mentioned your affairs to me many times. He has always been thinking of you, but he didn't know where you had gone..."

Liu Xiaolou said: "I have been wandering the world with no fixed abode, and two years ago I went to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, so I have been separated from him for a long time."

Lin Shuangyu said: "Senior Su Shidi has been cultivating on the Ten Thousand Mountain Islands for the past few months. Have you been there?"

Liu Xiaolou shook his head: "I am really not familiar with this side of Lingnan."

Lin Shuangyu said: "There are many islands there... How about this, you wait at the Luo Fu Mountain market for these few days. Just stay at our Nanhai Sword Sect's shop, and we will call for you when we return. After we go back, I will take you to find him."

Three days later.

Two hundred *li* west of Mount Luo Fu is Mount Xiqiao, the home of the Nanhai Sword Sect.

Two hundred *li* south from Mount Xiqiao is Qiao Bay.

Liu Xiaolou followed Lin Shuangyu onto a small boat and set sail from Qiao Bay. Today, there was a gentle breeze on the sea, and the waves were no more than a foot high, which could be described as extremely calm. A lonely sail was hoisted, but the wind was insufficient. The small boat sailed toward the southeast, moving very slowly.

After half an hour at sea, they had only traveled two or three *li*. Lin Shuangyu was clearly not satisfied. She dipped her oar halfway into the water, and without seeing her move, she stirred up waves that pushed the boat forward, instantly tripling their speed.

"Is this your sect's sword technique?" Liu Xiaolou asked curiously.

"My Nanhai Sword Technique—the Thousand Wave Art—is not a profound technique, and its power to injure enemies is insufficient, but it is excellent for rowing a boat at sea," Lin Shuangyu replied.

Liu Xiaolou also took the other oar in his hand and rowed along, increasing the boat's speed by another fifty percent. But he was doing this purely by consuming his true qi, unlike Lin Shuangyu, who was light and breezy, handling it with ease. After rowing for half an hour, he felt he could barely keep up.

He was shocked and thought to himself, what is the reason for this? He was already at the Foundation Establishment stage; was it really so strenuous just to row a small boat?

Lin Shuangyu said from the side: "The tides in Qiao Bay are far stronger than other sea surfaces. It is now high tide. How is it? Is the consumption of true qi very high? Most disciples of our Nanhai Sword Sect cultivate by entering the sea this way. Every island in the sea has a place for seclusion. Only by feeling the power of the sea tides can one have the sword intent that is continuous and unstoppable."

Liu Xiaolou nodded: "So that's how it is. I have learned much!"