Chapter 59: A Contest with the Old Man

This was a secret chamber.

The secret chamber was furnished in a quiet, elegant, and beautiful manner.

Xiao Laotou led Yu Liancheng inside, took a crystal wine goblet from a wall cabinet, and said leisurely, "Fine grape wine in a luminous cup; this is wine I specially had brought over from Persia. Have a little."

He then brought out a flat-bottomed square vessel containing a dark-colored paste: "This is butterfly shark roe I brought back from Japan last time. North of Kunlun, many people call it 'caviar,' which means a paste made from fish roe. It is excellent for accompanying wine, with a superb flavor."

Yu Liancheng was not very interested in this item, but out of politeness, he tasted it. It was indeed fishy and salty, not at all to his taste.

Xiao Laotou seemed to see through his thoughts and laughed, "Try it again and you will know. Besides the fishy saltiness, there is an indescribable flavor—it is exquisitely delicious."

Yu Liancheng nodded but did not reach for his chopsticks again.

Xiao Laotou said, "I heard from Laoshi Heshang that you came to find me of your own volition."

Yu Liancheng nodded: "That is correct."

Xiao Laotou said, "I wonder how you learned of the existence of the Invisible Men?"

Yu Liancheng smiled: "Geese leave tracks, wind leaves a sound. Although the Invisible Men are mysterious and unpredictable, they still leave traces—for instance, the massive fortune that Huo Xiu vanished with, or that seemingly all-knowing Great Wisdom and Great Understanding."

Being able to spirit away Huo Xiu's massive fortune was naturally a feat accomplished by Xiao Laotou.

Although shocking, it was done without a sound.

Apart from Huo Xiu himself, no one else knew of this news at all.

And that all-knowing 'search engine,' Great Wisdom and Great Understanding, must also be a chess piece Xiao Laotou placed in the Central Plains. Otherwise, with only the abilities of Guisunzi Daye, it would be absolutely impossible to collect so much secret information.

Xiao Laotou sighed softly: "True. 'Wu Ming' (no name) is easy, but 'Wuming' (the name) is truly not easy. I have heard of the process by which you captured the Embroidered Bandit; I imagine you must know a great deal about the Invisible Men."

"The methods of invisibility are nothing more than two kinds. One is being ordinary—just as ordinary as you, plain and unremarkable, so that even if you walk past someone, no one pays you any mind."

Yu Liancheng said: "And the other method is to use one identity to cover up another. If a person is the number one divine catcher under heaven, then others naturally would not see that he is the Embroidered Bandit."

Xiao Laotou clapped his hands and said: "Correct, you are simply a genius. How about it? Do you want to become an Invisible Man?"

Yu Liancheng smiled: "Oh, what are the benefits?"

Xiao Laotou said: "For a Green Clothes Tower Master with power and influence like you, perhaps only martial arts manuals hold any attraction. For example, the Primordial Qi Art, the Finger Blade, the Drunken Lying Flowing Cloud Seven Killers... although you do not necessarily have to practice them, you can use them to verify your own arts and thereby reach a higher level."

Yu Liancheng nodded: "True, this is indeed very attractive to me. The reason I came to the Island is also because of this."

Xiao Laotou said: "So you are agreeing?"

Yu Liancheng said: "If I do not agree, will you gift these manuals to me?"

Xiao Laotou smiled and nodded: "I will."

Yu Liancheng said: "Why?"

Xiao Laotou sighed: "Because I am truly too bored. Although you are still quite a bit behind me, you are at least a worthy opponent to look forward to. Furthermore, you are still very young and have great room for improvement."

He was a true talent gifted by heaven; if he had been willing, he could have been famous throughout the world at sixteen.

Although he founded the Invisible Men Organization single-handedly and had countless experts under his command, he also personally groomed the Prince of Taiping, Gong Jiu, and even helped Gong Jiu draft the plot to assassinate the Emperor and usurp the throne.

Yet he himself did not care; he faced all things and all matters with a transcendent attitude.

In the original timeline, Lu Xiaofeng killed Gong Jiu and ruined the plan to usurp the country, yet Xiao Laotou never sought revenge.

Because in his view, that was merely an interesting game; whether it succeeded or not was a form of pleasure.

His mindset was similar to Xu Fu in 'Wind and Cloud,' but even more transcendent.

And now, Xiao Laotou had finally met someone who could be considered an opponent. Although still a cut below him, this person was very young. If he could taste the flavor of defeat in his lifetime, it would be the resolution of a life regret.

Yu Liancheng chuckled: "Fine, I agree."

If this were someone like Lu Xiaofeng or Ximen Chuixue, they would never agree. But for Yu Liancheng, it was not necessarily a bad thing; it was a very interesting affair.

Xiao Laotou laughed, not surprised, nor did he seem particularly happy: "Good. From this day forward, you are a member of the Invisible Men Organization. After I pass on, perhaps the Invisible Men will be handed over to you."

Yu Liancheng said: "Since I am now a member of the Invisible Men Organization, should I pour wine for you, the leader?"

Xiao Laotou said: "Very well, offer the wine."

For some reason, after the two finished this dialogue, the previously peaceful atmosphere suddenly became oppressive and stifling.

Yu Liancheng picked up the wine pot and slowly moved it toward the wine cup in Xiao Laotou's hand; his movements were very slow, yet his hand was very steady.

Xiao Laotou held the crystal wine goblet, suspended in mid-air, a smile of keen interest on his face.

He had long since rarely felt interested in anything.

But this matter made him feel it was extremely interesting.

Yu Liancheng's little finger and ring finger suddenly flicked slightly, a sharp Qi energy pulsing and ready to be unleashed.

Xiao Laotou pressed down with the hand holding the wine goblet, his little finger slightly raised. His withered palm was filled with a strange, beautiful implication, as if it were a blooming orchid.

The wine pot slowly approached the cup.

Yu Liancheng's middle finger moved in coordination with the other two fingers, and Xiao Laotou's ring finger and little finger also moved. They moved very quickly, and very slightly, and stopped as soon as they moved.

A moment later, Yu Liancheng finally exhaled and filled the wine for Xiao Laotou.

"I have lost, and I am convinced of my defeat."

Xiao Laotou smiled: "I have simply lived a few decades longer than you. I believe that when you reach my age, you will certainly far surpass me in the application of techniques."

As it turned out, the two had just engaged in a heart-stopping duel.

Every time Yu Liancheng's fingers moved slightly, they actually contained a supreme technique, poised and ready. But Xiao Laotou had completely sealed off his offensive, leaving not the slightest flaw.

The two exchanged a few more words, and Yu Liancheng turned to leave.

Xiao Laotou suddenly said: "Did you sleep in Shaman's room last night?"

Yu Liancheng smiled: "You, old sir, care about such things?"

Xiao Laotou said: "Gong Jiu will be very angry."

Yu Liancheng said: "Are you going to help him?"

Xiao Laotou smiled and said: "I help no one. I am just an ordinary old man; I cannot manage the affairs of you young people."

"Since that is the case, then I am relieved." Yu Liancheng chuckled: "Besides, I have long wanted to meet the Nine Young Master, who uses his sword like an evil spirit."

Having said that, he pushed the door open and left.

Xiao Laotou took a shallow sip of wine, tasted a bit of caviar, and muttered to himself, "Young people are truly full of vitality; it is truly wonderful."