Chapter 38: Meizhuang

The cool breeze has its promise, the autumn moon is boundless, and in Green Bamboo Alley, the sound of the zither curls through the air.

Lu Li still chose to sit down; there was no special reason, only because the woman playing the zither was indeed very lush.

In such a private environment, it is difficult for any man to refuse the invitation of a beautiful woman.

What's more, that woman was truly beautiful.

Her sitting posture was very subtle; as her hands caressed the zither, her neck tilted slightly forward, forming a graceful curve together with her back.

Her eyes were lowered, and the dress she wore was elegant and simple, yet her charming eyes were like silk, inviting reverie and making Lu Li think of his sister's dress.

She did not make any seductive movements, yet every single movement was naturally alluring.

If seduced by such a woman, any man would blame his impulses on the mischief of the moon.

A strange thought arose in Lu Li's mind: if he gained growth in this world, would he still be a youth after returning to the Tianxuan Continent? "Young Master Lu, can this melody enter your ears?"

The woman opposite asked in a delicate voice.

Her voice had a slightly lazy charm, but the tone was somewhat low and husky, landing on Lu Li's ears like a kitten scratching an itch.

It had the flavor of a voice-acting streamer.

"It sounds good."

He was speaking of the zither music.

Lu Li smiled: "I am not well-versed in music and cannot offer professional praise; the only word I can sincerely use to compliment it is 'good'."

The reverie in Lu Li's mind faded with the end of the zither music; he clearly knew that this person should be Ren Yingying of Green Bamboo Alley—the daughter of the former Sun Moon Holy Cult Leader, Ren Woxing.

The long sword behind Lu Li's back had already been unbuckled and placed in a position by the chair where it could be reached at any time.

Since he had guessed that the other party was Ren Yingying, Lu Li had no reason not to be on guard.

After all, not long ago, he had killed Tong Baixiong of the Sun Moon Holy Cult.

By calculation, that should be this Miss Ren's Uncle Tong.

Ren Yingying said: "Young Master Lu is a true person; if you had spoken some flattering words that linger for three days, it would have been fake instead."

Having heard the zither music and drunk the fine wine, it was clear that the Ren Yingying before him was only to be looked at and not touched, so Lu Li no longer had the desire to continue flirting.

Therefore, he decided to get straight to the point.

"Miss Ren knows I am a Huashan Sect disciple; coincidentally, I also know Miss Ren is the daughter of Ren Woxing."

"The so-called righteous and evil cannot coexist; what is the purpose of Miss Ren's invitation this time?"

Ren Yingying opposite was startled, clearly unable to guess how Lu Li knew her identity, but she calmed down quickly.

"Young Master Lu's words are wrong; in fact, sometimes righteousness is not righteousness, and evil is not evil."

"Young Master Lu killed the six Taibao of the Songshan Sect, but only killed one Elder of our Holy Cult."

Calculated this way, it seems Young Master Lu is closer to us and further from the Songshan Sect, is that not so?"

"I just don't know who Young Master Lu is going down the mountain to kill this time?"

Ren Yingying's eyes rippled as she looked at Lu Li along with the moonlight and the clear breeze.

Lu Li turned a blind eye to this and said indifferently: "Not to kill anyone, only to pay respects to swords."

"First ascend the Four Mountains, then meet Dongfang."

Once these words were spoken, even Ren Yingying was shocked into silence.

And Lvzhuweng and Xiang Wentian, hiding in the shadows, felt the alarm bells ringing in their hearts.

Lu Li, sitting in Green Bamboo Alley as gentle as a gentleman, was at this moment like a sharp sword, about to unreasonably thrust into the Jianghu and stir up this world.

He was not kind, nor was he evil, nor was he neutral.

He had already detached himself from the Huashan Sect in some form, changing into a state of chaos.

Such a person had a good heart and identified with virtue and justice, but was unwilling to be bound by any constraints of the Smiling Proud Wanderer, having only a set of standards in his own heart.

Ren Yingying knew that such a person was very dangerous.

But at the same time, he was also very strong.

Strong enough to rescue her father—Ren Woxing!

Thinking of this,

Ren Yingying spoke: "Since Young Master Lu wants to pay respects to swords, I do know of a place where there are five reclusive masters; not one of them would be weaker than the Masters of the Five Mountains."

A smile appeared on the corner of Lu Li's mouth, and he asked a question he already knew the answer to: "Where?"

"Hangzhou, Meizhuang."

Ren Yingying said: "It's just that these masters are very strange; they will never fight anyone."

"What if I hold a sword to their necks?"

"Perhaps that would work, but such a contest would surely be very boring."

Ren Yingying sighed, her whole being revealing regret.

Lu Li nodded, expressing agreement.

A forced melon is indeed not sweet; it can only quench thirst.

"But if you use the things they are obsessed with to trade, they will certainly be happy to compete."

"These four are obsessed with zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and coincidentally, a friend of mine has these three things: chess, calligraphy, and painting."

"It is truly a coincidence that makes a story; I also have a miraculous musical score on me."

Ren Yingying and Lu Li laughed together.

The things in this world are indeed very coincidental, yet all coincidences are also carefully arranged inevitabilities.

Lu Li stood up slowly and said loudly: "Today I heard Miss Ren's zither music and found a place to pay respects to swords; I am truly overjoyed."

"I also have a sword to present to Miss Ren."

Lu Li walked three steps away, then drew his long sword a distance of one finger.

In an instant, the Sword Song rang out, piercing straight into the heart and lungs.

"Tomorrow, Lu Li will return to this place to accompany Miss Ren's friend to Meizhuang."

The sound of the Sword Song slowly dissipated, and Lu Li was already nowhere to be seen.

Not until Lu Li had walked far away did two people emerge from the bamboo shadows; they were Lvzhuweng and Xiang Wentian.

"Saintess, this Lu Li is clear-minded; I fear he has already guessed the purpose of our trip."

"It does not matter, as long as he is willing to take action."

"But this subordinate is worried that he will lose control."

Having said this, Lvzhuweng pointed to the surrounding green bamboo.

The three looked over and saw that the surrounding bamboo leaves were standing straight up, sharp as swords, all leaning toward the position where Lu Li had just stood, as if subjects were kowtowing to their king.

A single point from an unsheathed blade, and the sound of its Sword Song actually caused this lane of bamboo leaves to pay homage!

... Hangzhou, Meizhuang.

Lu Li and Xiang Wentian knocked on the main gate.

Before long, the gate slowly opened, and two old men dressed as servants walked out.

The person on the left had a sword hanging at his waist; he was 'One Word Electric Sword' Ding Jian; the other person was nicknamed 'Five Roads God' Shi Lingwei.

From the way these two stood and moved, one could tell they were both first-class experts in the Jianghu.

It was just that their ages differed too much from Lu Li's; they were not of the same generation.

"What business brings you two to our humble villa?"

"I am Lu Li, here to pay a visit to the swords."

Upon hearing this, Ding Jian and Shi Lingwei's expressions darkened.

The former cupped his hands and said, "Young Master, please return; this is Meizhuang, not Sword Worship Villa."

Having said this, he prepared to close the gate and turn the guests away.

Xiang Wentian, standing to the side, hurriedly laughed and said, "Wait a moment, you two. We have come to your esteemed villa; paying a visit to the swords is only one reason. There are also four treasures we would like to ask the four Owners to appraise."

"They are Fan Kuan's 'Travelers Among Mountains and Streams', Zhang Xu's 'Shuaiyi Tie', Liu Zhongfu's 'Vomiting Blood Manual', and the legendary musical score 'Smiling Proud Wanderer'. All are authentic works; I trust the four Owners will not refuse."

When he spoke of the four items, he deliberately spoke very loudly, so that even those inside the villa would certainly hear them clearly.

Sure enough, the next moment, three people walked out.

One of them had a long beard reaching his chest and held a wine cup in his hand, looking quite tipsy; he was the Fourth Owner, Danqingsheng.

Beside him was a man whose clothes were covered in ink stains; he was short and chubby, quite cute, but his head was bald and shiny, without a single hair, and in his right hand, he carried a large brush that was as long as he was tall; he was the Third Owner, Tubi Weng.

The other old man in black was extremely tall and thin; although his features were refined, his complexion was pale, appearing much like a corpse; he was the Second Owner, Heibaizi.

"Who says there is an authentic 'Travelers Among Mountains and Streams'?"

"Hehe, if you are using a fake calligraphy to pass it off, hehe..."

"'Vomiting Blood Manual' is nothing but a rumor; how could it exist in this world? You had better leave quickly and not linger here."

The three men had different attitudes, but without exception, their eyes were fixed on Xiang Wentian and could no longer look away.