Chapter 309: Zheng Wan, Xuanlan

"This Xue Bangzhu really played a great game of chess."

Li Miao sighed.

"She left behind three back-up plans after her death to ensure Xue Hanmeng's safety."

"The first is Yan Fan, guiding Jianghu people to dig out 'No-Trace.' If they can kill him, that's best; if they can't, they can still dig up her own bones, guiding Xue Hanmeng to discover his true face and get rid of his control early."

"The second is Xue Hanmeng herself."

"When she told Xue Hanmeng about this place before she died, I estimate 'No-Trace' was eavesdropping nearby, and Xue Bangzhu also knew he was eavesdropping."

"So those words were also said for 'No-Trace' to hear."

"Think about it, what would 'No-Trace' do after knowing she left behind a secret treasure?"

Zheng Yi suddenly understood.

"He wouldn't be in a hurry to harm Xue Hanmeng... and he would even actively conceal Xue Hanmeng's identity, actively creating an environment suitable for Xue Hanmeng to practice Wu Gong, allowing her to reach the conditions to excavate this place early!"

"Xue Bangzhu was also using 'No-Trace'!"

Li Miao smiled.

"Exactly."

"She knew her daughter too well; Xue Hanmeng wouldn't come to excavate this place before reaching the second level Heaven-Man Realm, nor would she tell 'No-Trace' the secret of this place."

"When she died, Xue Hanmeng was only fifteen; her Wu Gong wasn't practiced, and her mind wasn't mature, making it hard for her to live alone."

"So she used the secret of this place as bait, hanging it in front of 'No-Trace,' letting him take care of Xue Hanmeng for her."

Li Miao walked a few steps and continued.

"With Xue Hanmeng's aptitude, reaching the second level would take until she was twenty-seven or twenty-eight."

"By then, she would be old enough, her mind would be mature, and her Wu Gong would have the strength to protect herself—'No-Trace' would have no value."

"With Xue Hanmeng's foolish mind, if Yan Fan hadn't succeeded, she would definitely be devoted to 'No-Trace.' When she came to excavate this place, she would definitely bring 'No-Trace' along."

"And 'No-Trace' would definitely be afraid that Xue Bangzhu left behind statements unfavorable to him in her legacy, and would likely follow Xue Hanmeng into this place to destroy the evidence while she wasn't paying attention."

"Then—he would be dead for sure."

"And Xue Hanmeng could take the legacy she left behind, take the second-level Heaven-Man Realm, leave this place, and bury everything in Kaifeng, never to be known by anyone else."

Zheng Yi didn't speak for a long while.

How much did Xue Bangzhu consider for Xue Hanmeng before she died?

When she gave birth to Xue Hanmeng, she was already at the end of her rope, her Wu Gong wasted, coughing blood daily, yet she still endured the pain and left behind so many means to ensure Xue Hanmeng could live well.

The more truth that was unearthed, the more concrete Xue Bangzhu's image became in her mind... and the more she hated Xue Hanmeng to the bone.

After a long while, Zheng Yi looked up and said.

"My lord, what is the third back-up plan?"

"You just said that Xue Bangzhu's means were also to deal with Penglai disciples; what do you mean?"

Li Miao smiled.

"Do you remember what I said to you yesterday when you wanted to take your sword and go out to find people?"

Zheng Yi nodded.

"You said that nearly fifty years have passed, and the surviving Penglai disciples likely won't assist me in seeking revenge on Yingzhou, and might even attack me when they see me coming..."

She suddenly widened her eyes.

"I understand!"

"Xue Bangzhu is the kind of person you mentioned... she didn't want to seek revenge on Yingzhou, or rather, Xue Hanmeng's safety was far more important in her heart than seeking revenge on Yingzhou!"

"The clues she left outside could only prevent outsiders, but couldn't prevent Penglai disciples."

"She left behind a test."

Zheng Yi said in a low voice.

"First, if a Penglai disciple found Xue Hanmeng, Xue Hanmeng would definitely inform them of the words Xue Bangzhu left before she died."

"If this person had enough strength to protect Xue Hanmeng from Yingzhou, they could naturally come in and take away the legacy she left behind."

"And if this person lacked strength and didn't pay attention to Xue Hanmeng's warning, they were likely like me, a fellow disciple eager to seek revenge on Yingzhou."

"Xue Bangzhu didn't want Xue Hanmeng to be involved in Yingzhou's affairs; if the person who came had the ability to protect Xue Hanmeng, that would be fine, but if not... they would also die here."

"This is the third back-up plan Xue Bangzhu left behind."

After finishing, Zheng Yi let out a long sigh and didn't speak again for a long while.

Times change, and human hearts change.

Fifty years have passed, and even the disciples who escaped from Penglai back then have long been sculpted into another appearance by time.

When the Penglai sect was annihilated back then, Xue Bangzhu was a personal witness... for Zheng Yi, only her mother died; but for Xue Bangzhu, almost all her fellow disciples, teachers, relatives, and friends died.

Yet she still made this choice.

How could Zheng Yi, who had always held beautiful fantasies about her fellow disciples, not be disappointed, not feel decadent?

Li Miao had no intention of interrupting her contemplation, turned, walked to the stone wall at the innermost part of the stone chamber, examined it, reached out and touched the stone wall, and pulled out a secret compartment at the height of his waist.

Inside lay a booklet.

This booklet was made of sheepskin, and after decades of storage, only the edges were slightly yellowed and curled. But sheepskin is not as thin as paper, so this booklet was not thick, only about a dozen pages.

On the cover of the booklet, Xue Bangzhu had carved a poem with the tip of a sword.

Li Miao glanced at it, tore off the cover, and threw it in front of Zheng Yi.

"This Xue Bangzhu wasn't as heartless as you thought."

Zheng Yi reached out and took the cover, confused for a moment, and was about to open her mouth to ask, but her gaze swept over the cover.

She froze, reaching out to stroke the sword marks on the cover.

When Xue Bangzhu escaped from Penglai back then, she was already at the second level Heaven-Man Realm, and her sword technique was already effortless. But the sword marks on this cover were such that every stroke exceeded the original pattern and penetrated the back of the sheepskin.

Even after decades, Zheng Yi could feel that when Xue Bangzhu carved this poem, her hand was trembling uncontrollably.

She read it softly.

"Snow sound leans, beside bamboo..."

"Cold dream... never leave home."

"Xue Bangzhu, Xue Hanmeng."

"So that's it..."

Zheng Yi's nose soured, and she held the sheepskin against her chest, as if finally relieved, letting out a long breath.

"You didn't forget Penglai."

"I know... I know."

Zheng Yi carefully flattened the sheepskin in her palm, flipped it over, and finally found what she wanted to know on the back.

"I know your name."

"Zheng Wan."

And Li Miao opened the first page of the booklet, and just by looking at the first line, he suddenly laughed.

On the first page of this booklet, only four words were written.

"Artistic conception."

"Xuanlan."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 310 =====