Chapter 368: Lu Hua Meets the Demon Master and the Old Monk, Together Beheading the Second Master

In a private room of Qimo Chunfang, only Lu Hua was left.

She leaned against the window, supporting her chin as she overlooked the Qunfang Banquet below.

The Qunfang Banquet was built on a bridge spanning the Zhi River, and the common people on both banks stopped to watch, which was extremely lively.

The moonlight was like water, spilling onto the sparkling Zhi River; the men on the flower boats beat drums to help the fun, and the singing girls sang songs, pushing the festive atmosphere to a climax.

Cheers came one after another from both banks, and the scene became more and more lively.

At this time, ten courtesans had already stepped onto the stage to perform, but Lu Hua appeared listless.

She yawned lightly, her gaze passing over the prosperous Qunfang Banquet, and only when she saw that three of the opening poems were composed by Xie Guan did a trace of interest appear in her eyes.

"This Xie Guan, being so in the limelight today, is not like his usual personality."

"Forget it, don't worry about him, I have to leave Above Bianjing after today anyway."

"I don't know if I will see Xie Guan before I leave."

"Better see him, lest he say later that I, a dignified Lu Lu Tian Shi of the Sanzhen Sect, left without saying goodbye, which would be a loss of face."

For this illegitimate son of the Xie family, her emotions were complex; she was both amazed by his cultivation talent and regretted that he was not a member of the Sanzhen Sect.

She cast her gaze toward the city of Above Bianjing among the buildings under the moonlight.

The ten thousand lights reflected by the Zhi River rippled in her eyes, as if she saw the palace in the sky.

"The moon over Above Bianjing, the sound of pounding clothes in ten Battalion Commander."

She recited softly, feeling emotional in her heart.

The prosperity of Above Bianjing was indeed far superior to the capital of the Great Sui, and could be considered the richest capital in the world.

Lu Hua suddenly remembered, had "Long Yi," that flood dragon, been out for too long?

Her brows could not help but furrow with worry; could it be that he had encountered some unexpected event?

At this moment, the Qunfang Banquet gathered many ninth-rank martial arts experts and people with profound primordial spirit cultivation, as well as figures like the Third Master and Su Xiang.

But she then shook her head lightly, pondering inwardly.

Long Yi, as a flood dragon of the Ze Lake, already possessed a half-dragon body, even if he encountered a strong person like the Third Master, this place was not far from the surging Zhi River.

Even if he was not a match, he could retreat unscathed.

Not to mention!

She knew deeply that this "flood dragon" had learned a "water escape" technique from somewhere; as long as there was a water source within a hundred miles, whether it was a river, lake, or pool, he could instantly move to the water surface and escape.

Lu Hua did not care about the life or death of that flood dragon; if he was slaughtered, he was slaughtered.

It was just that now that Long Yi was missing, today's Qunfang Banquet had a bit less certainty.

She was pondering when her gaze suddenly froze and turned toward the door.

A light knocking sound came from the carved wooden door.

Lu Hua felt a chill in her heart; two breaths had appeared outside the door silently, which even she had not sensed.

A refined and magnetic voice came through the door: "Lu Lu Tian Shi Lu, have you been well?"

Lu Hua felt a sinking heart; the person knew her identity, clearly coming prepared.

She had no intention of meeting, her figure as light as a feather, already prepared to drift out the window and leave with the wind.

The visitor was not kind, and she was alone, so she should naturally avoid his edge.

However!

Another kind and solemn voice followed, carrying the internal strength of the Buddhist sect:

"Donor Lu, it has been five years since we parted at Mount Zhongnan."

Lu Hua's footsteps paused, and her figure drifted back from the window.

The door of the private room was pushed open by an invisible force, and two figures stepped in.

On the left was a refined middle-aged man with a slender figure, wearing a white robe inside and a precious sable fur coat outside.

The snow-white sable collar set off the middle-aged man's face, making it even fairer and more handsome.

His hair was graying, black and white mixed, adding a few points of vicissitudes, but the cold temperament was softened by those slightly curved brows and slightly tired eyes.

On the right was an old monk with gray clothes and long eyebrows, with a kind face and solemn bearing.

One middle-aged, one old monk, their temperaments were completely different.

The old monk was as solemn as a high-ranking Buddhist monk, while the middle-aged man, although refined, had a trace of evil spirit hidden between his brows.

These two were none other than the Demon Master Xu Jiangxian and Master Lianchi.

Master Lianchi smiled and put his palms together, "Donor Lu, you trust this old monk."

Lu Hua looked at the two people in front of her, feeling surprised; when did the Demon Master and Master Lianchi become close friends?

She had met Master Lianchi once at Mount Zhongnan back then and knew deeply that this master had high moral character, took the world as his own responsibility, and was a truly enlightened high monk.

If not for this, she would not have stayed.

However, when her gaze turned to the gentle Demon Master, Lu Hua felt a bit of vigilance in her heart.

This person was one who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

Lu Hua could not figure out the relationship between the two, so she asked tentatively.

"Master Lianchi, why have you come to Above Bianjing City?"

Demon Master Xu Jiangxian laughed lightly, "Why Lu Lu Tian Shi Lu came, that is why we came."

Lu Hua raised her brows, "Came for the Master?"

Xu Jiangxian did not answer directly, but his smile deepened: "Lu Lu Tian Shi Lu came to Above Bianjing, presumably invited by Xie Hong? Could it be for the Second Master?"

Lu Hua curled her lips, fortunately, she had a bamboo hat to cover it.

She disliked dealing with old Jianghu people like the Demon Master the most; she couldn't beat him, and the other party was always airtight in his words and actions.

She pondered inwardly, wondering how the Demon Master knew these things.

Master Lianchi said frankly: "We came to the Qunfang Banquet to set up a painting boat and saw a flood dragon lurking at the bottom of the water, following the river. Unfortunately, it was difficult to intercept in the water, and the movement was too big."

"However, the flood dragon's aura was too heavy, so this old monk and Donor Xu followed it all the way here."

Xu Jiangxian took over the conversation, "Unexpectedly, I had the honor to meet Lu Lu Tian Shi Lu here."

Xu Jiangxian had also visited the Sanzhen Sect, but Lu Hua was still young at that time.

Lu Hua cursed inwardly, truly a case of "the dead Daoist is not the dead friend"; this flood dragon caused a lot of trouble outside, but instead implicated her.

However!

Lu Hua also heard that the Demon Master had no malice, and Master Lianchi had always been on good terms with the Sanzhen Sect, so there was no need to be overly vigilant.

Xu Jiangxian cast his gaze toward the Yao Xian Lou opposite, saying lightly: "Donor Lu, do you intend to join forces with Great Qi's Shen Yin, Tu Mo Si, and Su Xiang after the Qunfang Banquet ends, pretending to surround and kill the Third Master, but actually luring the Second Master downstairs to behead that Second Master together?"

Lu Hua saw that the plan was exposed, but did not deny it; this was indeed Xie Hong's original plan.

She suddenly remembered that this Demon Master was a close friend of the Third Master.

Xu Jiangxian seemed to have guessed Lu Hua's thoughts and walked slowly to the window, carrying his hands behind his back, facing the river breeze, his tone indifferent: "Although this seat is a close friend of An Shi, if I can get a glimpse of the fifth floor of the Academy and see the secret of ascension, this kind of friendship naturally has to be put aside for now."

The Third Master's courtesy name was An Shi.

Xu Jiangxian turned around, his gaze as deep as a pool: "I guess An Shi has already anticipated your plan and is mostly waiting for you to throw yourselves into the net."

"Of course, with Su Jing's talent, he also knows it well, which is why he let you act."

He paused, his tone carrying a bit of playfulness: "The Fourth Master Su Jing has many plans, and his chess game is always laid out for thousands of miles. Perhaps he anticipated that we would appear in Above Bianjing and set up this game."

His gaze fell on Lu Hua, meaningful: "We are just his chess pieces."

"Now that the chess pieces have arrived, I don't know how to play." Xu Jiangxian smiled.

Master Lianchi chanted, "Amitabha."

Lu Hua heard the Demon Master's implication and felt a slight shock in her heart.

Xu Jiangxian had already opened his mouth, "Since that's the case, why don't we break into the Academy and simply go see the sword of this Second Master, how about it?"

"Shatter this chessboard!"

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 369 =====