Chapter 245: The Person Stands Alone Amidst Falling Flowers

Night falls.

The bright moon hangs high.

The entire small town has fallen into silence.

Although the Big Boss who controlled this small town is dead, it seems not to have stirred up the slightest ripple, as if an invisible hand has smoothed away all the waves.

In the Big Boss's mansion, the lights are brilliant, as bright as day.

Yu Liancheng is casually flipping through a book in the study.

Although the Big Boss's bookshelf does not contain martial arts masterpieces that resound through the pugilistic world, it does have obscure martial arts passed down from beyond the passes. While not particularly brilliant, they can provide him with ideas and help pass the time.

Just then, a series of light footsteps sounds, as if from a little wild cat looking to steal a snack.

"Young Master." A delicate, coquettish voice rings out.

Yu Liancheng naturally recognizes that this is Li Zhenzhen's voice.

Only, compared to her usual crisp and efficient tone, it seems to have a bit more of a shy, bashful flavor.

He does not look up, merely saying indifferently: "Oh, something the matter?"

"Young Master has been working hard reading; Zhenzhen has learned sword dancing and would like to ask Young Master to critique it, to rest for a moment."

Yu Liancheng looks up and his eyes cannot help but brighten.

He sees Li Zhenzhen draped in black gauze, her exquisite, curvaceous body tightly wrapped, revealing her beautiful figure without a doubt. As she moves with lotus steps, her waist swaying, she possesses an indescribable charm and affection.

Her waterfall-like hair is draped over her shoulders, appearing as if she has just bathed, still radiating steam. Contrasted against her snow-like skin, she appears even more tender, as if she would break at a touch.

And in her slender right palm, she holds a Sword, adding a touch of heroism to her coquettishness.

Yu Liancheng becomes somewhat interested, clapping his hands and laughing: "Good, let me see your sword dance."

"Please enjoy, Young Master."

Li Zhenzhen holds the Sword, a faint, subtle smile flitting across the corners of her lips.

He sees her light waist twist, the precious Sword in her hand dancing slowly, the sword light flowing brilliantly. Her dance is light and graceful, the light gauze sleeves flying, revealing pairs of crystal-clear jade legs.

She dances barefoot, her jade feet dancing in a whirl. Her white feet, surpassing frost and snow, tread upon the crystal jade floor; it is impossible to tell whether the feet surpass the jade, or the jade surpasses the feet.

The sword light expands, becoming increasingly fierce, the sword tip piercing the sky and emitting clear, resonant musical notes.

Yu Liancheng watches this sword dance, seemingly completely captivated by her.

Swish!

Suddenly, the sword is like a long rainbow, the tip already pressing toward Yu Liancheng's throat, the chill reaching his eyelashes.

Yu Liancheng wears a smile, his two fingers gently pinching, already catching the sword blade.

And Li Zhenzhen twists her waist, having already taken the opportunity to nestle into Yu Liancheng's embrace.

Her delicate body turns, her jade arms wrapping around Yu Liancheng's neck, a pair of beautiful eyes carrying deep affection, as if they could melt a person, and she says sweetly: "Young Master, I wonder how Zhenzhen's dance was?"

Yu Liancheng nods, praising: "Not bad."

Li Zhenzhen bites her red lips with her pearly teeth and says again: "Young Master once said that no matter who schemes against Young Master, they must pay a price. It is just that Zhenzhen does not have ten secret manuals, only infinite reverence for Young Master, and wishes to serve Young Master; I do not know if Young Master would be willing to grant Zhenzhen this."

Yu Liancheng twirls a strand of her hair, sniffing it lightly, and says: "Fine wine and beautiful women are naturally the things one must not fail, but you are an Emei Disciple; are you not worried about your master finding out?"

Li Zhenzhen laughs coquettishly: "If Young Master does not say anything, who would know? Besides, Master is already old; in less than two years, it should be my turn to take the position of Emei Sect Leader."

Yu Liancheng, however, suddenly tilts his head, continuing to flip through the secret manual in his hand.

Li Zhenzhen's heart cannot help but sink. She had already inquired that Yu Liancheng is not a gentleman who remains unmoved in the presence of a woman, but is quite the playboy; why has he suddenly become so cold? She cannot help but secretly doubt her own charm.

"You move yourself."

Yu Liancheng's voice comes out flat and indifferent.

Li Zhenzhen immediately reveals a sweet smile: "Yes, Young Master."

Having said that, her jade hands gently tuck her hair, and her head lowers.

Under the moonlight, a black figure drifts silently into the Big Boss's mansion.

This person wears a strange bronze mask on their face and is draped in a wide black robe. It makes it impossible for people to see "his" face, nor do they know if "he" is male or female.

This person's lightness skill is extremely brilliant, transforming into a streak of light and shadow, shuttling through the mansion with extreme speed. Even though there are quite a number of servants and attendants in the mansion, not one of them is able to detect her.

"Li Zhenzhen is an important chess piece I planted in the Seven Sects Alliance; no matter what, I must save her."

The black-robed person reveals a thoughtful expression: "And this Yu Liancheng is also an unknown variable. It just so happens that this person's martial arts are extremely brilliant; I must also go see him. Even if I cannot recruit him under the Heavenly Venerable's command, he should not become an enemy and ruin my grand plan."

This person is none other than the Heavenly Venerable who flips clouds and rain with a turn of the hand in the pugilistic world, the very person who stopped Xie Xiaofeng from committing suicide.

Before long, the Heavenly Venerable has arrived at the location of Yu Liancheng's sleeping quarters.

However, before she has even walked inside, she hears a soul-stirring moan coming from the room.

The Heavenly Venerable cannot help but have her figure stall.

"This voice is somewhat familiar; could it be Li Zhenzhen..."

Although "his" face has been covered, a pair of eyes as calm as a lake have unknowingly stirred with ripples.

The Heavenly Venerable hesitates, wondering whether to wait a while, or come back another day. Or perhaps, taking advantage of the moment when Yu Liancheng's mind is wavering, strike a ruthless blow and eliminate this major threat...

"He" thinks for who knows how long, until the storm suddenly stops, and everything returns to silence.

The Heavenly Venerable suddenly feels a bad premonition, and just as she is about to deploy her lightness skill to leave, a voice suddenly rings out.

"A friend from afar. Eavesdropping is not a good habit."

Yu Liancheng has already strode out of the room, his upper body merely draped in a simple black robe, his whole body radiating an aura like that of a sage.

"No offense intended, please forgive me." The Heavenly Venerable stands with hands behind her back, saying in a hoarse voice.

Yu Liancheng's gaze flashes: "You are the Heavenly Venerable?"

"Correct, it is indeed this seat. Today I came to talk to you about the matter of Li Zhenzhen." The Heavenly Venerable has already suppressed all emotions, her voice indifferent and steady.

Yu Liancheng looks at the Heavenly Venerable and rubs his chin: "I don't like others wearing masks when talking to me, so you should take it off for me too."

His figure flashed, and one hand reached out to grab at the Heavenly Venerable's bronze mask.

"How dare you!"

The Heavenly Venerable was instantly enraged; what kind of person was "she," and when had anyone ever dared to offend her like this?

One hand swung out violently, meeting Yu Liancheng's palm head-on; the air whistled incessantly, and on her hand, she was actually wearing a pair of black gloves.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In the blink of an eye, the two had already begun a lightning-fast exchange, with bursts of energy exploding continuously.

The Heavenly Venerable could sit in her current position because her cultivation was naturally not weak; she was a truly top-tier expert.

But compared to an expert like Yu Liancheng, who exceeded all standards, she was more than a notch inferior.

Yu Liancheng attacked with full force, and after twenty moves, his arm suddenly shot out, entering the Heavenly Venerable's palm stance, and lightly plucked off that terrifying bronze mask.

Under the moonlight, there appeared an peerless beauty with flowing black hair. Compared to the youthful and pretty Li Zhenzhen, she possessed an additional air of mature charm. She also carried a sense of high-and-mighty authority, and one could tell at a glance that she was a person who had long held great power, making one involuntarily develop a desire to conquer her.

—The legendary, supreme Heavenly Venerable was actually a woman.

"It really is you, Murong Qiudi." Yu Liancheng looked at her face, his eyes brightening, yet he was not the least bit surprised.

Murong Qiudi, head of the Seven Stars Pond in Jiangnan.

And the Seven Stars Pond was also one of the Four Great Families of the martial arts world; regardless of reputation or status, it was not beneath Shenjian Shanzhuang, and it was a main pillar of the righteous path in the martial arts world.

No matter from what perspective one looked at it, Murong Qiudi did not seem like someone who should be linked to the "Heavenly Venerable" who was sweeping through the Edo.

But as it happened, Murong Qiudi was the Heavenly Venerable.

Murong Qiudi's expression was icy cold to the extreme, and her voice seemed to be shrouded in a layer of frost: "I have come to discuss business with you; what do you intend to do?"

With a "crunch," Yu Liancheng squeezed his hand, and the bronze mask twisted and deformed.

He looked Murong Qiudi up and down, a faint, ambiguous smile appearing on his face as he said: "I always settle accounts with those who have schemed against me, and you are no exception."

Swept by his gaze, which felt as if it had substance, even with Murong Qiudi's usual composure and coolness, she could not help but take two steps back; her body felt hot, but her voice was as cold as ice: "You are courting death."

"No, no, no, I am not courting death, I am just settling accounts with you, and incidentally making a mutually agreeable deal with you. Don't you want to take revenge on Xie Xiaofeng? He has no shortage of old lovers."

A deep, strange luster flowed in Yu Liancheng's eyes, and his voice carried an indescribable sense of seduction: "He has betrayed you more times than you know; do you not dare to betray him once?"

"My affairs with him are none of your concern." Murong Qiudi's exquisite face remained shrouded in ice, as if she were not the least bit affected by his mind-controlling technique.

"I have no interest in your affairs, but regardless, one must pay a price for scheming against me."

Yu Liancheng channeled his mind-controlling technique, disrupting Murong Qiudi's focus. At the same time, his figure flashed, and one palm reached out once more.

"You..."

Murong Qiudi barely managed to block seven moves before her body suddenly went limp, and she was already being held by Yu Liancheng.

"No matter what it is, we can go inside and talk about it slowly, talk about it slowly."

Yu Liancheng held Murong Qiudi in his arms, his figure flashed, and he drifted into the room.