Chapter 805: Lu Xiaofeng and Ye Gucheng

The Hua Estate.

"Yu Liancheng, you aren't some young maiden, so why do you hide and refuse to come out of the sedan chair?" Lu Xiaofeng looked toward the sedan chair, his tone carrying a hint of a smile.

Yu Liancheng laughed, "You should always understand that standing is not as comfortable as sitting, and walking is not as comfortable as lying down."

Lu Xiaofeng's eyes rolled, and he said, "Since you are shy, let me help you." As he spoke, his movement technique shifted, and he dove into the sedan chair like a bird; his movement was agile and incredibly swift.

The others all nodded in secret admiration. In the Edo, it was said that Lu Xiaofeng hid his true depth and possessed peerless lightness skills; even if one counted all the reclusive famous heroes, he would never fall out of the top ten, and that was no exaggeration.

Although the speed at which Lu Xiaofeng darted into the sedan chair was fast.

The speed at which he retreated from the sedan chair was even faster.

By the time he retreated back to the main hall, his face had suddenly turned pale, and then, with a "pfft" sound, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Lu Xiaofeng, are you alright?" Hua Manlou stepped forward to support him.

Lu Xiaofeng said, "I won't die."

No sooner had these three words been spoken than he spat out another mouthful of blood, his figure swaying as if about to collapse.

In reality, because of certain reasons, Lu Xiaofeng had taken an antidote in advance and was not poisoned. The brief exchange just now in the sedan chair had definitely been him giving his all.

It was just that there are some things that simply cannot be compensated for by the four words "giving one's all"; that is a chasm that no matter how hard a mortal tries, they cannot cross.

"Why, oh why." A sigh came from within the sedan chair.

Lu Xiaofeng said, "Why?"

"Since you knew you would surely lose, why did you have to make a move?"

"Because I am Lu Xiaofeng, and because you are Yu Liancheng."

This was a reason that was not a reason, yet it was a reason. Others might not understand, but Yu Liancheng understood.

"Because of Xue Bing."

Precisely because Yu Liancheng understood, he added another sentence so that everyone could understand.

This explanation was as direct as a knife, cutting straight to the vital point.

It was also as ruthless as a whip, mercilessly lashing against Lu Xiaofeng, making his entire soul feel a sharp pain.

Xue Bing was originally Lu Xiaofeng's close female confidante, but Xue Bing had thrown herself into the embrace of Yu Liancheng. Lu Xiaofeng was also a man, and as long as one is a man, no one is willing to endure this humiliation. Even if he had no way to snatch Xue Bing back, he wanted to prove that he was more outstanding and more excellent than Yu Liancheng.

"Yu Liancheng, why don't we have another contest, just like the one with the Embroidered Bandit back then." Lu Xiaofeng took out a silk handkerchief and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Yu Liancheng said, "Oh? How shall we compete?"

Lu Xiaofeng said, "Fifteen years ago, the Iron Shoe Bandit who ran rampant for a time did not die, and he is right here in this Hua Estate. Let us compete to see who finds the Iron Shoe Bandit first; the loser must grant the winner one request."

The grudge between Yu Liancheng and Lu Xiaofeng was not just about Xue Bing, but also the Embroidered Bandit.

In that gambling match, he had lost, and his head had been shaved clean.

Lu Xiaofeng reckoned that his martial arts might not be the best in the world, but when it came to investigating cases, even if one added up all the constables of the Six Fan School, they could not compare to him alone; he had great confidence in himself.

There was a moment of contemplation in the sedan chair, then Yu Liancheng said, "Fine."

Lu Xiaofeng was instantly all smiles, rubbing his hands together, ready to show his skills and investigate the true identity of the Iron Shoe Bandit.

*Chi! * A corner of the sedan curtain was suddenly lifted, and a burst of internal energy shot out, heading straight for Doctor Song. Doctor Song's face changed drastically; this energy came too fast, and he had no time to dodge, so he could only barely hold the medicine chest hanging on his shoulder horizontally against his chest. With a "bang," the medicine chest exploded, and wood splinters flew everywhere.

Then came two more "bang, bang" sounds; the items inside the medicine chest fell to the ground, making a dull thud, and the faces of Lu Xiaofeng, Hua Ruling, Eagle-Eye Old Seven, and the others changed instantly. Because what had fallen out of the medicine chest were not bottles and jars, but—a pair of iron shoes.

"Iron shoes!"

"The Iron Shoe Bandit!"

That Doctor Song's face also changed color, and just as he was about to explain a few words and take the opportunity to escape, he discovered that the previous finger energy had followed the medicine chest into his body, sealing his meridians and leaving him unable to move.

"I have already seen the Lu Xiaoji who has neither eyebrows nor hair. This time, Lu Xiaoji, on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, you shall strip off your clothes and do one hundred and twenty somersaults stark naked on the peak of Mount Tai, haha." Inside the sedan chair, Yu Liancheng laughed heartily and clapped his hands: "The birthday gift has been delivered, farewell, everyone."

In an instant, Yu Liancheng and his party vanished without a trace.

Lu Xiaofeng's face was slightly pale, and his eyes began to roll around the Hua Estate, seemingly looking for something.

Hua Manlou laughed, "What are you looking for?"

"Looking for tofu!"

"Oh?"

"Looking for a block of tofu to bash my head against and die!"

After Yu Liancheng and his party left the Hua Estate, Shangguan Xueer leaned toward the sedan chair and said, "Half-Master, there is one thing I don't understand."

"Oh?"

Shangguan Xueer said, "Your relationship with the little nephew and grand-nephew isn't good, so why did you suddenly think of coming to pay them a visit today?"

There was a moment of contemplation behind the sedan curtain, then he chuckled, "To not return to one's hometown in glory is like wearing fine silk in the dark."

"Ah?"

"Let's go, let's go see Ye Gucheng; this fellow's situation seems not too good."

"Half-Master, are you joking? Ye Gucheng's sword technique is divine; besides you, who else could hurt him?"

Yu Liancheng said leisurely, "It is true that his sword technique is divine, but in the end, he is not a match for ten thousand men; he is, after all, made of flesh and blood."

Ye Gucheng's lightness skill was very high,

Some said his lightness skill was already above that of Sikong Zhaixing, capable of riding the wind and plucking stars from the sky.

Without such brilliant lightness skill, how could he execute that "Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens" which was as ethereal as an Exiled Immortal?

In the past, on moonlit and breezy nights, Ye Gucheng always liked to face the wind alone, on the sea or at White Cloud City, to display his lightness skill, drifting beneath the moon.

Whenever it was such a time, whenever his lightness skill was pushed to the limit, he was always exceptionally joyful and thrilled.

At this moment, the moon was bright and the breeze was clear, and this place was a quiet mountain forest; when he displayed his lightness skill, only the sound of his robes breaking the wind could be heard, the surrounding forest shade retreated rapidly, and even the bright moon seemed to be nothing more than a silhouette by his side. But Ye Gucheng could not feel joy or thrill, because he was fleeing, struggling between life and death.

Suddenly, the tree shadows ahead swayed, and human figures appeared.

Ye Gucheng sighed.

His palm slid toward the sword hilt.

The sword was already unsheathed, and blood blossoms bloomed.

In the past, those who died under this sword were all supreme experts or high-ranking figures of extraordinary status.

But now, they were all elite soldiers or martial artists who had defected to the Imperial Court—insignificant people who were absolutely unworthy of dying under this sword.

The sword light danced across the sky, ethereal yet filled with ruthlessness; it was no longer the lofty flowing clouds, but a soul-devouring, spirit-snatching poisonous dragon, and any enemy who dared to stand in its path would have their life taken away.

Blood blossoms bloomed, and the foul, fishy stench of blood under the moonlight made one want to vomit.

With another long hum, the sword in Ye Gucheng's hand transformed once more into a flying rainbow.

He and his sword had become one, tearing a gap through the heavily guarded battle formation, and he rode the wind away.

"Pursue!"

"He cannot be let go!"

The endless pursuit continued.

……