Chapter 32: The Huanghe flows far away among the white clouds, a lone city stands amidst ten thousand mountains

"Huh, that stinking brat actually didn't chase after me. Could it be he knew I had set up eighteen ambushes?"

On a secluded path, Sikong Zhaixing looked back in confusion. He had spent over a month setting up eighteen ambushes, specifically to deal with Yu Liancheng.

Of course, to an expert like Yu Liancheng, even a net of heaven and earth would likely have little actual effect.

But Sikong Zhaixing's ambushes were not meant to hurt anyone in the first place, but to make Yu Liancheng look foolish and disheveled. Even if he could dodge them, he still wanted to disgust this guy a little.

He just hadn't expected that he wouldn't follow.

"Forget it, I've already stolen the legendary 'Rakshasa Tablet'. Spreading the word will still be enough to restore my reputation as the King of Thieves." Sikong Zhaixing tossed the Rakshasa Tablet back and forth in his hand: "By the way, I wonder how that brat Lu Xiaoji is doing?"

Sikong Zhaixing had come to Wuyang City this time for another reason, besides wanting to find trouble for Yu Liancheng.

He had been assigned by Jin Jiuling to steal the embroidered handkerchief left behind by the Embroidered Bandit from Lu Xiaofeng's hands and place it in a nunnery.

The nunnery was the residence of the fifth sister of Red Shoes, Jiang Qingxia, and the former General Manager of the Nanwang Mansion, Jiang Zhongwei, was also temporarily staying there.

Jin Jiuling intended to use this to make Lu Xiaofeng believe that the Red Shoes organization was also involved, thereby throwing the blame for the "Embroidered Bandit" onto Gongsun Lan.

And the reason Sikong Zhaixing obediently listened to Jin Jiuling was because he was a thief and had leverage held over him by Jin Jiuling.

"I've pitted Lu Xiaoji again. I hope this guy has a run of bad luck; at worst, next time we compete at somersaults, I'll let him dig a hundred fewer earthworms."

In reality, this was not the first time Sikong Zhaixing had pitted Lu Xiaofeng.

He was the King of Thieves, sometimes paid by others to steal things, and several times he had stolen from his friend Lu Xiaofeng, giving Lu Xiaofeng a massive headache.

Recalling the grievances and entanglements with Lu Xiaofeng, Sikong Zhaixing became somewhat distracted, and the Rakshasa Tablet he was tossing in the air accidentally fell to the ground. When he picked it up again, he discovered the jade tablet had actually cracked.

"This is bad luck... wait, how could the Rakshasa Tablet crack so easily?"

Sikong Zhaixing frowned; he had long since investigated the origin of the Rakshasa Tablet.

As the token of the Rakshasa Cult, it shouldn't be so fragile, otherwise, it would have shattered long ago when Yu Liancheng fought across a thousand miles. Thinking back to how Yu Liancheng had clearly lost the jade tablet but hadn't chased after him, a bad premonition arose in Sikong Zhaixing's heart.

But he still didn't jump to conclusions, carefully observing this jade tablet, when he suddenly discovered that among the Seventy-two Heavenly Demons carved on it, one of the kneeling demons looked very similar to the disguise he had worn at the inn last time.

"This stinking brat, he's practically an old fox."

Sikong Zhaixing was so angry his stomach hurt, and the hand holding the jade tablet couldn't help but exert force, causing the entire jade tablet to shatter completely.

And hidden inside the jade tablet was actually a slip of paper.

Sikong Zhaixing understood that the note must have been left by Yu Liancheng, and the words on it must be meant to anger him, but he still couldn't help but open the note to look.

There was only one sentence on it.

"Kongkong, you're being naughty again."

……

…………

Nanwang Mansion.

Wuyang City was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided, producing many experts, but almost no one dared to offend the majesty of the Nanwang Mansion.

Everyone knew that the Wang Mansion was heavily guarded, with a post every five steps and a sentry every ten, and it had gathered a large number of martial arts experts.

Even the Nanwang Shizi had been apprenticed to Ye Gucheng since childhood, possessing exquisite sword skills and having already ranked among the first-class experts of the day.

But the reason it was said "almost" was because more than ten days ago, the eighteen pearls of the Wang Mansion had vanished without a trace, swept away by the currently notorious Embroidered Bandit.

The majesty of the Wang Mansion was greatly damaged, and they ordered the Six Fan School to recover the pearls and bring the Embroidered Bandit to justice as soon as possible.

In a long corridor of the Wang Mansion, a middle-aged man with a jade crown binding his hair and a dashing demeanor was walking toward the main hall.

This person was the World's Number One Famous Catcher, Jin Jiuling. He wore a smile and had a dashing air; he didn't look like a martial arts expert who made friends in the underworld tremble with fear, but rather like a playboy frequenting the pleasure quarters.

In reality, this man was indeed just that; he was never without beautiful women and fine wine by his side.

Fortunately, he was a very handsome and attractive man, so he always had advantages in this regard. Coupled with his expertise in identifying antiques and calligraphy, and his skill in judging horses, he had always lived the life of a playboy.

Jin Jiuling had already arrived in the main hall.

Three people were conversing in the hall.

One had a fair face and a slight beard, wearing a snow-white robe. His eyes were not pitch black, but they were terrifyingly bright, like two cold stars, or like two swords. Although he was sitting on a stool, he gave off an ethereal aura, as if in the clouds, a flying immortal from the heavens.

—White Cloud City Lord, Ye Gucheng.

Beside Ye Gucheng was a handsome youth, also in white, also carrying a Sword, and even his demeanor and expression were somewhat similar to Ye Gucheng's, though not nearly as cold or arrogant.

Jin Jiuling bowed to this person: "Jin Jiuling pays respects to the Shizi."

This person was the Nanwang Shizi, and also Ye Gucheng's disciple.

As for the last person, his smile was as gentle as a spring breeze, though his eyes seemed to lack focus; it was the seventh young master of the Hua family, Hua Manlou, who was visiting the Nanwang Mansion.

"Jin Jiuling, you've come at the right time. We are discussing the case of the Embroidered Bandit." The Nanwang Shizi said indifferently: "Your Six Fan School has been investigating the Embroidered Bandit case for some days; what is the progress?"

Jin Jiuling smiled bitterly: "That thief acts cleanly and efficiently, and is truly very cunning; we have yet to find any key clues. However, I have privately invited Lu Xiaofeng to take action, and was just about to report this to the Shizi."

"Lu Xiaofeng? The legendary Lu Xiaofeng with four eyebrows?" The Nanwang Shizi raised his eyebrows, seemingly interested.

"Exactly."

"It is said that Lu Xiaofeng's Lingxi Finger is unparalleled in the world, and there is no weapon in the world he cannot catch. Is that truly the case?" Ye Gucheng suddenly spoke, his voice also seeming to be filled with a cold, ethereal quality.

"The Lingxi Finger is indeed an unparalleled technique, but there are times when he cannot catch things," Hua Manlou said with a smile.

"Oh, there are things he cannot catch?" The Nanwang Shizi said.

He knew that Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou were good friends, and what they said was more reliable.

"Yes, he once told me that Yu Liancheng had once struck him with a sword. If not for the fact that the other party had no intent to kill, perhaps there would be no Lu Xiaofeng today."

"Yu Liancheng." Ye Gucheng's gaze flashed, revealing a heart-stopping sharpness.

He had heard this name too many times.

In the past, he only considered Ximen Chuixue as his opponent. But the sudden emergence of Yu Liancheng gave him another reason for anticipation.

Only such an opponent was worthy of him drawing his Sword, and worthy of that move, "Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens".

Just at this moment, an ethereal song drifted into the ears of the four people.

"The Huanghe flows far away among the white clouds, a lone city stands amidst ten thousand mountains. Why should the Qiang flute complain of the willow, the spring breeze does not cross the Yumen Pass."

……

PS: Seeking recommendation votes, seeking follow-up reads; nowadays, recommendations are all based on follow-up reads!