Chapter 28: The Prettier the Woman, the More She Lies

Wu Lie's mind raced, but he showed nothing on his face:

"Zhang Shaoxia, no one named Zhang Wuji has come to our Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor in these past few years."

As he spoke, a look of confusion appeared on his face at just the right moment, as if he truly had never seen Zhang Wuji.

"Great acting!"

Zhang Jie secretly gave Wu Lie a thumbs-up in his heart.

With acting like this, by the 21st century, the Oscars would have to give him a golden statue.

Zhang Jie feigned anxiety and pressed further:

"I ask Master Wu to think carefully; my grandmaster misses Junior Brother Wuji very much."

Zhang Jie deliberately brought up Zhang Sanfeng to put pressure on Wu Lie.

Sure enough, upon hearing the name Zhang Sanfeng, Wu Lie's expression changed.

That centenarian Daoist, even though he hadn't descended the mountain in over a decade,

still made every Jianghu person who knew his name wary.

Wu Lie knew he couldn't dismiss Zhang Jie by saying nothing,

so he pretended to be deep in thought for a long while before slowly speaking:

"Several years ago, no one named Zhang Wuji came to our Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor."

Seeing Zhang Jie's look of disappointment, he continued:

"However, a youth named Zeng Aniu did come."

As he spoke, he described the physical characteristics of Zeng Aniu.

"Clap!"

Zhang Jie stood up excitedly, slapping the table: "That is my Junior Brother Wuji!"

"What? That Zeng Aniu was Zhang Wuji, the orphan of the Fifth Hero Zhang?"

Wu Lie looked shocked, as if he were only now learning Zeng Aniu's true identity.

Zhang Jie feigned great excitement and pressed:

"Master Wu, where is my Junior Brother Wuji now?"

"Zhang Shaoxia, please accept my condolences." Wu Lie wore a look of sorrow,

"Zeng Aniu—no, Zhang Shaoxia Wuji—he unfortunately passed away three years ago."

"What? My Junior Brother Wuji is dead?"

Zhang Jie acted as if struck by lightning, muttering in disbelief.

"Yes.

Young Hero Wuji fell in love at first sight with my niece, Jiuzhen, three years ago.

They were already at the stage of discussing marriage and were about to find an auspicious day to tie the knot,

when unexpectedly, Wuji lost his footing and fell off a cliff during an outing."

Wu Lie was worthy of being a manor master; he immediately spun a plausible lie.

Zhang Jie, as if not believing it, spoke with difficulty:

"Is Miss Jiuzhen in the manor? I would like to verify this with her."

"That is only natural."

Wu Lie nodded and had the maid serving outside the hall go and invite Zhu Jiuzhen.

"Woof, woof, woof!"

"Uncle Wu, are you looking for me?"

A short while later, the beautiful Zhu Jiuzhen, with her curvaceous figure, walked into the hall leading a large dog and said obediently.

She used to be arrogant and overbearing, but the three years since her father Zhu Zhangling's death had taught her that

there was only one master of Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor now, and that was Wu Lie, who sat in the seat of honor!

If she wanted to maintain her footing in Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor and continue being Miss Zhu Jiuzhen, she had to please Wu Lie.

"Jiuzhen, explain the specific details of how Aniu lost his footing and fell off the cliff three years ago to Zhang Shaoxia.

Also, Aniu's name wasn't Zeng Aniu, but Zhang Wuji, the orphan of the Fifth Hero Zhang."

Wu Lie, fearing Zhu Jiuzhen would let something slip, spoke first.

At the same time, he introduced Zhang Jie to Zhu Jiuzhen:

"This is Wuji's senior brother, Zhang Shaoxia Jie of Wudang."

Zhang Jie's skin twitched as he listened to Wu Lie:

Was the collusion this obvious now?

However, Zhang Jie, his goal not yet achieved, kept the actor's self-cultivation in mind,

and would never break character until the play was over.

The vicious but clever Jiuzhen immediately understood Wu Lie's hint.

She bit her lip, immediately entered character, and her eyes turned red,

with tears swirling inside, as if they would fall at any second:

"At that time, I was out for an outing with Aniu..."

"Wuji's mother, Yin Susu, was right; the prettier the woman, the more she lies."

Listening to Zhu Jiuzhen's vivid, detailed account of "Zeng Aniu's accidental fall," Zhang Jie sighed inwardly.

If someone else who didn't know the truth had come, they would likely have been deceived by the superb acting of Wu Lie and Zhu Jiuzhen.

Zhang Jie sighed, and as if he had believed Wu Lie and Zhu Jiuzhen's words, said with a sorrowful tone:

"Where is the place where Junior Brother Wuji fell? I would like to go and pay my respects."

"That is only right."

Wu Lie breathed a sigh of relief and immediately had his servants prepare yellow paper, incense, candles, and offerings.

An hour later, Zhang Jie, personally carrying the incense, candles, and offerings, followed Wu Lie and Zhu Jiuzhen to the edge of a cliff.

The cliff was shrouded in clouds and mist, and the bottom was completely invisible.

Zhang Jie asked again to confirm:

"Is this the place where my Junior Brother Wuji fell?"

"It is."

Zhu Jiuzhen, annoyed by Zhang Jie's repeated questioning, rolled her eyes,

and answered with a tone of certainty, affirmation, and absolute conviction.

"Let's hurry up and pay respects to Young Hero Wuji."

Wu Lie, equally irritated, urged.

This was not only Zhang Wuji's grave, but also the burial place of his sworn brother, Zhu Zhangling!

Thinking of how he had lost his good brother Zhu Zhangling because of Zhang Wuji, Wu Lie felt a dull ache in his chest.

If this good brother could have been traded for the Dragon-Slaying Saber that could command the world, it would be one thing.

But now, it was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice; he had lost his brother and hadn't even gotten the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

For these three years, he had been supporting Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor alone, and it was becoming increasingly difficult.

Zhu Jiuzhen took the bamboo basket from Zhang Jie's hand, intending to set out the chicken, goose,

fruit, and other offerings, then light the incense and candles, and burn the paper money to finish it off.

"No!"

At this moment, Zhang Jie, who had been staring at the bottomless cliff, suddenly raised his head,

showing a resolute expression, and said firmly: "I cannot let Junior Brother Wuji's body be exposed in the wilderness.

I must go down the cliff, find his remains, and bring them back to Mount Wudang!"

"What?"

Zhu Jiuzhen was shocked by Zhang Jie's idea.

She knew her father Zhu Zhangling's body was still down there!

If Zhang Jie couldn't find it, that would be one thing, but if he did,

how would they explain why the Master of Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor died together with Zhang Wuji?

Wouldn't that be a confession that their Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor was involved in Zhang Wuji's death?

If this were investigated further, wouldn't their plot to murder Zhang Wuji be exposed?

"No, Young Nephew Zhang.

This cliff is bottomless and filled with jagged rocks; it's too dangerous."

Wu Lie, also realizing the gravity of the situation, attempted to use the danger of the cliff to dissuade Zhang Jie.

"Zhang Shaoxia, three years have passed; Aniu's remains have likely long since been carried off by birds and beasts,

you won't find anything if you go down." Zhu Jiuzhen also tried her best to dissuade Zhang Jie.

"No!

Junior Brother Wuji and I were close friends; if he is alive, I must see him, and if he is dead, I must see his body!

Even if only a single hair remains, I must bring him back to Mount Wudang!"

Zhang Jie rejected Wu Lie and Zhu Jiuzhen's proposal without hesitation, his tone brooking no argument.

Sensing the unshakable determination in Zhang Jie's words, Wu Lie and Zhu Jiuzhen fell silent. ===== CHAPTER 29 =====