Chapter 629: Lu Hua Meets the Demon Master, Together They Slay the Second Master? Su Jing

In a private room at Qiyi Springfang, only Lu Hua remained.

She leaned by the window, chin propped on her palm, gazing down at the Qunfang Banquet.

The Qunfang Banquet was built atop a bridge spanning Zhi River, where crowds on both banks had gathered to watch, the scene bustling and lively.

Moonlight spilled like water over the shimmering Zhi River; men on the flower boats beat drums to stir the mood, while courtesans sang melodious tunes, pushing the festive atmosphere to its peak.

Cheers rose in waves from both shores, the scene growing even more lively.

By now, ten flower queens had taken the stage to perform, yet Lu Hua showed little interest.

She let out a small yawn, her gaze sweeping past the glittering Qunfang Banquet—until she noticed three of the recited poems were written by Xie Guan, at which her eyes flickered with faint interest.

"Xie Guan really is something—showing off so much today, unlike his usual self."

"Forget it. After today, I'll be leaving Bianjing anyway."

"I wonder if I'll even see Xie Guan before I go."

"I should see him—otherwise, he'll say I, the Heavenly Master of Sanzhen Church, left without a word, and that would be a loss of face."

Her feelings toward this younger son of the Xie family were complex: she marveled at his cultivation talent, yet lamented he was not a disciple of Sanzhen Church.

Her gaze drifted toward the buildings of Bianjing beneath the moonlight.

The ten thousand lanterns reflected in Zhi River rippled in her eyes, as if she saw celestial palaces in the sky.

"Bianjing's moonlight, ten Battalion Commander pounding clothes."

She murmured softly, her heart stirred.

Bianjing's splendor far surpassed the capital of the Great Sui—it was truly the richest city under heaven.

Lu Hua suddenly remembered: had "Long Yi" been away too long?

A frown creased her brow—had he met with some misfortune?

At this moment, the Qunfang Banquet gathered many ninth-rank martial experts and those with profound Primordial Spirit cultivation, including figures like the Third Master and Su Xiang.

Yet she shook her head lightly, thinking to herself.

Long Yi, as a dragon of Dezehu, already possessed a half-dragon body; even if he faced the Third Master, he was not far from the turbulent waters of Zhi River.

Even if he couldn't win, he could escape unharmed.

Moreover!

She knew this "dragon" had learned a "Water Escape" technique from some unknown source—anywhere within a hundred li with water—river, lake, or pond—he could instantly appear upon its surface and vanish.

Lu Hua didn't care whether the dragon lived or died—if killed, so be it.

But now, without Long Yi, today's Qunfang Banquet lacked certainty.

As she pondered, her gaze suddenly sharpened, turning toward the door.

A soft knock echoed on the carved wooden door.

Lu Hua's heart tightened—two qi signatures had appeared outside the door without a sound, undetected even by her.

A refined, resonant voice came through the door: "Heavenly Master Lu, long time no see."

Lu Hua's heart sank—the visitor knew her identity, clearly prepared.

She had no desire to meet; her form floated like a feather, ready to slip out the window and vanish with the wind.

The visitor had malicious intent; she was alone—she must avoid his sharp edge.

Yet!

Another voice, gentle and solemn, followed, carrying Buddhist inner power:

"Lady Lu, it has been five years since our parting at Mount Zhongnan."

Lu Hua halted her step, her form gliding back from the window.

The door to the private room swung open under invisible force, and two figures entered.

On the left stood a middle-aged, refined man, tall and slender, clad in a white robe beneath a costly sable fur coat.

The snowy sable collar accentuated his pale, handsome features.

His temples were streaked with gray, the mix of black and white adding a touch of weariness; his originally stern demeanor was softened by slightly curved brows and eyes tinged with fatigue.

On the right stood an elderly monk in gray robes, his face kind, his bearing solemn.

One middle-aged, one old monk—their temperaments could not have been more different.

The monk radiated the solemn dignity of a high Buddhist master, while the middle-aged man, though refined, carried a faint aura of malice in his brow.

These two were the Demon Master Xu Jiangxian and the Lotus Pool Master.

The Lotus Pool Master smiled, clasped his palms: "Lady Lu, you still trust the old monk."

Lu Hua studied the two before her, startled—when had the Demon Master and the Lotus Pool Master become close friends?

She had met the Lotus Pool Master once on Mount Zhongnan; she knew him to be upright, devoted to the world, a true enlightened master.

Had he not been, she would not have stayed.

Yet as her gaze turned to the smiling Demon Master, Lu Hua felt a surge of caution.

This man would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

Lu Hua could not fathom their relationship, so she probed cautiously:

"Lotus Pool Master, why have you come to Bianjing?"

The Demon Master Xu Jiangxian chuckled lightly: "Lady Heavenly Master, why did you come? That's why we came."

Lu Hua raised an eyebrow: "To see the Master?"

Xu Jiangxian did not answer directly, only smiled more deeply: "Lady Heavenly Master came to Bianjing at Xie Hong's invitation, didn't you? Or perhaps to seek the Second Master?"

Lu Hua smirked—luckily, her hat concealed it.

She disliked dealing with old foxes like the Demon Master—she couldn't beat him, and he always spoke and acted with perfect precision.

She wondered inwardly: how had the Demon Master learned all this?

The Lotus Pool Master answered plainly: "We came to the Qunfang Banquet to board a painted boat, and saw a dragon lurking beneath the water, drifting downstream. We couldn't intercept it in the water—it was too noisy and difficult."

"But the dragon's qi was too strong—we followed it with Xu Shi."

Xu Jiangxian picked up: "Unexpectedly, we met Lady Heavenly Master here."

Xu Jiangxian had visited Sanzhen Church before, but Lu Hua was still young then.

Lu Hua cursed inwardly: dead monk, not my problem—this dragon stirred up trouble outside and dragged her into it.

But!

Lu Hua sensed no malice from the Demon Master, and the Lotus Pool Master had always been friendly toward Sanzhen Church—no need for excessive caution.

Xu Jiangxian gazed toward the opposite Yaoxian Tower, speaking calmly: "Lady Lu, are you planning to join forces with Da Qi's Divine Concealment, the Demon-Slaying Bureau, and Su Xiang after the Qunfang Banquet—pretending to hunt the Third Master, actually luring the Second Master downstairs to kill him together?"

Lu Hua, her plan exposed, said nothing—this was indeed Xie Hong's original plan.

She suddenly recalled: this Demon Master was a close friend of the Third Master.

Xu Jiangxian seemed to read her thoughts, stepping to the window, hands behind his back, facing the river wind, his tone calm: "Though I am close to Master An, if I may glimpse the fifth floor of the Academy and uncover the secret of Ascension, such friendship must be set aside."

The Third Master's courtesy name was An Shi.

Xu Jiangxian turned, his gaze deep as a pool: "But I suspect Master An already foresaw your plan—he's likely waiting for you to walk into his trap."

"Of course, with Su Jing's talent, he knows this too—that's why he lets you act."

He paused, his tone tinged with amusement: "The Fourth Master, Su Jing, is cunning—he always lays traps a thousand li ahead. Perhaps he anticipated our arrival in Bianjing and set this very scheme."

His gaze settled on Lu Hua, his words laden with meaning: "We are merely his pawns."

"Now that the pawns are in place, we still don't know how to move." Xu Jiangxian smiled faintly.

The Lotus Pool Master murmured: "Amitabha."

Lu Hua caught the Demon Master's implication, her heart trembling slightly.

But Xu Jiangxian spoke again: "If so, why not storm the Academy and go see this Second Master's sword?"

"Shatter this chessboard!"

(End of Chapter)