Chapter 52: Stirring the Jianghu

Black Wood Cliff.

No one could have imagined that in such a lair where demons gathered, there would actually be an exquisite little garden.

One could see red plum blossoms, green bamboo, blue pines, and emerald cypresses, arranged with great ingenuity.

Inside the garden house, a person sat by the vanity on the east side.

She had long hair draped over her shoulders, wore pink clothing, and held an Embroidered Needle in her hand, busy with embroidery.

This person had an enchanting figure and a beautiful face; every movement of her brows and eyes was filled with affection, and she was unmistakably a woman through and through.

If Lu Li were to see her, he would certainly be surprised.

Simply because in this world of *The Proud Smiling Wanderer*, the Dongfang Bubai here was actually a female version!

In fact, in Mr. Jin's original work, that Dongfang Bubai was originally a man.

But for some reason, in later adapted versions, more and more people wrote her as a woman.

Perhaps such a powerful and charming woman could strike a chord with the strange fetishes of certain scholars? Of course, the specific reason is not something the pure Lu Li could understand.

One can only say that city folk really know how to play.

Dongfang Bubai was concentrating on embroidering a pair of mandarin ducks when a figure strode in from outside the door.

The person who arrived wore a fiery red dress and looked heroic and spirited.

Her chest was prominent, and a black waist-cincher pulled her red dress tight, further highlighting her straight and slender legs.

Standing there, she was like a heroic, commanding older sister who was no less capable than any man.

If this figure and temperament were placed on the screens of later generations, the entire screen would likely be filled with "awsl."

Many people might shout in their hearts: "Big sister, kill me!"

Seeing the person arrive, Dongfang Bubai said in a sweet voice: "Sister Ting, have you finally finished your work? Look, how is my embroidery?"

Sister Ting... who could have imagined that this older sister who just entered was actually Yang Lianting!

It was unexpected that in this world, not only was Dongfang Bubai a woman, but Yang Lianting was also a woman.

And looking at the division of labor between the two, Yang Lianting was the dominant one, while Dongfang Bubai, this peerless expert, was the submissive one.

That these two had turned into a lily couple was truly too speechless.

But thinking about it from another angle, it seemed even more exciting, what was going on... Yang Lianting took the embroidery and feigned anger: "Hmph!

You spend all day here embroidering; do you know that Ren Yingying took experts from the Cult to Hengshan a few days ago to besiege someone named Lu Li?"

"With her acting this way, has she ever put you, the Cult Leader, in her eyes? What is most hateful is that she actually lost the battle, causing more than half of the Cult's top experts to be injured!

If this continues, the prestige of our Divine Cult will be completely ruined."

She reprimanded Dongfang Bubai without mercy, then looked at the embroidery in her hand, her voice softening a fraction: "It is embroidered well."

Strange to say, the feared Dongfang Bubai was not at all angry at her reprimand, and upon hearing her final word of praise, a look of joy appeared on her face.

Dongfang Bubai smiled: "What does that matter? Those power struggles are not even worth a single hair of yours in my eyes, sister.

Now I have long understood the marvelous Dao of heaven and man transforming and all things nourishing; who cares about the life or death of those pigs and dogs in the Cult? It is only a pity... sister, you cannot practice this Sunflower Manual, otherwise, you and I could share ultimate bliss."

Yang Lianting said: "You are just like this; there is really no helping you.

Who told me to have a life of toil, only able to clean up the mess for you."

Dongfang Bubai hugged Yang Lianting, and their two delicate bodies pressed together.

"Sister, no need to worry. Which sect ruined our affairs? Tell me, and I will go and kill their entire sect."

"There is no sect, only one person."

"One person? You mean, one person killed hundreds of our Cult's experts?"

Dongfang Bubai sat up and asked, somewhat disbelieving.

"That is right, it is that person named Lu Li; one person and one sword slaughtered both the righteous and evil paths.

I suppose you didn't pay attention to the news; the previous Songshan Thirteen Taibao and Ren Woxing were also killed by him.

He even said he was going to Songshan to 'pay a visit with his sword.' That Zuo Lengchan is a lackey of the Shaolin Temple, and the Shaolin Temple will not sit idly by; I fear there will be a great battle on Songshan."

Hearing the names of people like Ren Woxing and Zuo Lengchan, Dongfang Bubai felt no ripples.

Because in her heart, these people were already like ants.

If she truly wanted to kill Ren Woxing, I fear Ren Woxing would not even have the chance to defend himself.

But thinking that Lu Li could actually slaughter a thousand people with the strength of one person, a glimmer of light flashed in Dongfang Bubai's eyes.

"Sister, let us also go to Songshan to take a look.

If that boy surnamed Lu is truly strong, I will kill him.

If he is not strong enough, I will just slaughter them all while I am at it, saving you from worrying about matters of the Jianghu."

Dongfang Bubai seemed to be acting for Yang Lianting and the Cult's affairs, but deep in her heart, there was another thought, one unique to a supreme master of the martial path.

"Sister is good at everything, it is just a pity that she will never understand the loneliness of being invincible in the world.

How many years has it been since I encountered an opponent worth striking against..." "Very well."

Yang Lianting nodded.

Two figures in red drifted down from Black Wood Cliff.

... Songshan Sect, Zuo Lengchan's gaze was incomparably gloomy.

In the seat below, Tang Yinge said in a deep voice: "Senior Brother, that person surnamed Lu slaughtered both the righteous and evil paths at Hengshan alone; even experts like Xiang Wentian could not escape the power of his sword.

Now he has even declared that he is coming to our Songshan Sect to 'pay a visit with his sword'."

"Although he went to the other three sects to 'pay a visit with his sword' and was safe and sound, our situation at Songshan is different from theirs.

This time, Lu Li's visit to the mountain is likely not with good intentions."

"If it were normal times, we would naturally have a way to deal with it.

But now that this matter is known to the whole world, countless people have already arrived at the foot of Songshan, just to witness this visit."

Just today, more than thirty quite prestigious elders have already paid their respects at the mountain gate.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, some methods cannot be used.

Rustle, rustle, rustle... Zuo Lengchan's palm exerted force, already crushing a corner of the chair to pieces.

Even though he was deep and calculating, at this moment he was truly about to lose his composure.

Where on earth did the Huashan Sect pick up such a disciple!

He is simply his nemesis.

Originally, Zuo Lengchan had calculated everything, moving against the four sects almost simultaneously.

But Lu Li cut in horizontally, first intervening in the Golden Basin Hand-Washing event, and subsequently killing four Great Protectors and numerous death warriors on the Helan Ancient Road!

After the news from the Helan Ancient Road was sent back, Zuo Lengchan realized that Lu Li had already exceeded the scope of what he could control.

However, the transmission of news in the pugilistic world requires time; even if Zuo Lengchan had immediately issued orders to send people to meet the Sword Sect and Ding Mian and the others, it was still too late.

During the Sword-Qi Conflict, Lu Li severed another one of Zuo Lengchan's arms.

Immediately following that, Lu Li began his Five Mountains sword-visiting, and even shattered the conspiracy Zuo Lengchan had arranged on Taishan.

Even killing Ren Woxing was just a matter of convenience, merely a side quest.

The more Zuo Lengchan thought about it, the more terrified he felt; it was as if Lu Li had seen the heavenly secrets in advance, dismantling all his plans step by step just like this.

The current Songshan Sect is as if its four limbs have been severed, already able only to sit and wait for death!

"Heaven has wronged me!"

"Since Zuo was born, why must Lu also be born!"

Zuo Lengchan's face turned deathly pale; in the face of absolute power, he was already helpless.

Suddenly, the sound of a disciple reporting came from outside.

"Master!"

"Abbot Fangzheng of the Shaolin Temple has arrived."

Hope for a reprieve suddenly welled up in Zuo Lengchan's eyes.

"I cannot die, I still have Shaolin as my backing!"

Soon, a piece of news spread throughout the pugilistic world.

"Lu Li of the Huashan Sect practices the Star-Sucking Great Art and has entered the evil path."

"To uphold the righteous path of the pugilistic world, Shaolin is stationed at Songshan."

"They have even scattered hero invitations, inviting Wudang, the Beggar Sect, Songfeng Temple, and over ten other large and small sects to join together to oppose Lu Li."

At the same time, the two figures of Liang Fa and Lin Pingzhi sprinted up Huashan.

Just as they entered the mountain gate, they shouted urgently: "Master, a major event has occurred."