Chapter 458: Big Snow Plain Sword Debt

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He Xinliang

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He XinliangFenghuo Xizhuhou

The hall was brilliantly lit, making the glazed floor shimmer with vibrant colors. Lin Hongyuan stood amidst it, feeling as if she were in the Pure Glazed World described in Daoist scriptures. She wondered if she should replicate this design upon her return to the Dragon Palace. Yu Chi Duquan drank distractedly, her eyes constantly darting towards the outer corridor. The sky was dim, and no lanterns had been hung there yet. She hesitated, wondering if she should find an excuse to meet him. As she raised her wine cup, she sniffed, then quickly turned to look at the outer corridor, about to stand up.

Lin Hongyuan gently tugged Yu Chi Duquan's sleeve. The latter, with a look of urgency, said she smelled blood. Hearing this, Lin Hongyuan's thoughts raced. Given the unfathomable skill of that young devil, even if Kuai Xue Mountain Villa harbored hidden masters, those capable of injuring him would be few and far between. Xie Lingzhen counted as one, Li Yibai as half. But apart from two tremors of the floor, there had been no other movement in the outer corridor. Could someone have lurked at the bottom of the lake, launched a sinister sneak attack on Xu Fengnian, and then retreated after a successful strike? Otherwise, it couldn't possibly be that fellow, bored, using a flying sword to stab fish in the lake, causing the scent of blood.

Lin Hongyuan's curiosity was also piqued. After a moment of hesitation, she exchanged a glance with Yu Chi Duquan, and they both stood up and walked towards the outer corridor. The night deepened, like an immortal from the heavens casting a black cloth over the earth. Fortunately, the hall and the outer corridor connected, and the candlelight and glazed light seemed to flow outwards. The scene in the outer corridor, illuminated by flickering candlelight swayed by cold winds from the lake, was a mix of light and shadow. Xu Fengnian was vaguely visible, seated on a chair, gently twisting his wrist. Lin Hongyuan, sharp-eyed, noticed a piece of cotton cloth tied around his hand. Yu Chi Duquan anxiously asked, "How did you get hurt?"

Xu Fengnian casually replied, "The ground was slippery. I wasn't careful and fell."

Yu Chi Duquan gasped in surprise, her face filled with guilt. Lin Hongyuan inwardly sighed, thinking that if this sister were left in the jianghu, she would surely be devoured limb from limb by those jackals and tigers in human skin. Xu Fengnian stood up and smiled, "I'll escort you. This manor has all sorts of characters right now, and I'm not at ease with the two of you alone. Fairy Lin previously mentioned that their Dragon Palace ancestor said one can know a person's face but not their heart. Don't assume that most people entering Kuai Xue Mountain Villa are righteous; they might be hypocrites, not to mention those morally ambiguous wanderers of the jianghu. We can take a stroll around the manor, enjoy the scenery, and I can see you off. Oh, right, I need to change my appearance first. Please wait a moment."

Lin Hongyuan sneered inwardly, "A hypocrite couldn't outdo you?" Xu Fengnian turned around, put on a lifelike mask, and when he turned back, he had transformed into an elegant scholar. Yu Chi Duquan's mouth slightly ajar. At this moment, hurried footsteps echoed from inside the room. The manor lord, Yu Chi Liangfu, was visibly relieved to see his daughter unharmed, though a deep gloom lingered between his brows. He still feigned nonchalance and smiled, "If I'm not mistaken, you arrived by boat? Duquan, you shouldn't receive honored guests this way. It's fortunate that the young Palace Lord Lin is knowledgeable and doesn't hold it against you, her elder sister."

Yu Chi Duquan blushed, smiled, and ran to Yu Chi Liangfu, affectionately calling out "Father." Yu Chi Liangfu cast a quick, stern glance at her, then swiftly raised his eyes, smiling at the young, white-haired scholar. Even with a warm smile, his gaze was vastly different from when he looked at his daughter. Xu Fengnian, with hands clasped in his sleeves, bowed respectfully, "I, the Dragon Palace Pearl Collector, am honored to meet the Manor Lord."

Lin Hongyuan smiled and explained, "Zuo Jing is considered a favored disciple of Master Nalan. Perhaps outside of Nantang Dao, people aren't very familiar with Young Master Zuo. When he first entered the Dragon Palace, we meant for him to choose any position, but Young Master Zuo has unique taste and chose the Pearl Collector, a position not even as high as the Imperial Scribe. He said that the term 'collecting pearls' was more pleasing, and more auspicious for scholars aiming to ace the imperial examinations. Sister Yu Chi and I have been drinking for about an hour, and Young Master Zuo has been tirelessly acting as our protector. It's truly due to Sister Yu Chi's influence."

Yu Chi Liangfu's icy gaze melted, warming significantly. Indeed, the name "Master Nalan" was too lofty for the Liyang court and public. He was the undisputed foremost figure of Nantang Dao; it was not an exaggeration to say Nalan Youci, not Prince Yan Chi Zhao Bing. Even under the very nose of Zhao Bing in the Southern Border, Master Nalan's blatant acts of transgression were countless. Otherwise, when the feudal lord entered the capital, it wouldn't have been Nalan Youci riding in a carriage while Prince Yan Chi served as his escort knight. If this Zuo Jing truly was a distinguished disciple of Master Nalan, then Yu Chi Liangfu's regard for him would even surpass his respect for Lin Hongyuan, whose position as a minor Palace Lord was rather awkward.

Yu Chi Liangfu cupped his hands and softly said, "There have been some unexpected incidents at the manor. However, with Young Master Zuo by my daughter's side, I, Liangfu, can rest easy. After I've dealt with my current affairs, I will return to apologize to Young Master Zuo and have a good drink together."

Xu Fengnian nodded, saying, "I wouldn't dare refuse."

Yu Chi Liangfu left the courtyard and shook his head to the old steward waiting by the door, saying, "Duquan is fine. She met a young man named Zuo Jing, whom Lin Hongyuan says is a disciple of Nalan Youci. However, even if the Dragon Palace made a move this time, it would only be targeting Que Dun Mountain. Moreover, the Dragon Palace absolutely doesn't have the strength to kill both Li Huoli and Xie Lingzhen. How could the forces behind these two be shaken by the Dragon Palace, which is isolated in a corner of the Southern Border? If this truly is Master Nalan's astonishing scheme, even if it were carried out by the Dragon Palace, Kuai Xue Mountain Villa cannot interfere. We, jianghu figures without connections in the imperial court, could be annihilated at any moment."

The old steward was worried. "I truly can't imagine who possesses such skill and audacity. Although Xie Lingzhen hasn't appeared on the martial arts rankings, he is still a top-tier master. Furthermore, the Spring Post Thatched Cottage has connections with the new Minister of War. Li Huoli's skill is probably mediocre, but with the court as his protective charm, who would dare to provoke him? The manor has likely mishandled things this time, and it's inevitable that various factions will be enraged. Many will seize the opportunity to fish in troubled waters and kick us when we're down. Manor Lord, you must plan your retreat. Prince Jing'an has always been interested in Kuai Xue Mountain Villa pledging allegiance to his princely estate. Manor Lord, should you not consider it?"

Yu Chi Liangfu's expression was complicated, and he was indecisive. He stopped, looking at a large red lantern hanging on a tree branch, completely devoid of joy. He exhaled a heavy sigh, saying helplessly, "It's like doing business. We originally wanted to use this martial arts alliance leader election to boost the manor's prestige, so we could find our own buyers then, with the highest bidder winning. Prince Jing'an is eager to buy, so we wouldn't lack for suitors, and we could very well choose not to sell based on our own preferences. Now, if we fall into trouble and then have to seek the Prince Jing'an estate's favor, I fear Kuai Xue Mountain Villa will be sold for a pittance. If both buyer and seller were happy, then so be it. My current fear is that even if we sell to Prince Jing'an's estate, if that young feudal lord remembers the manor's past lack of tact and causes trouble for us, I know this prince has a wise strategist behind the scenes, governing clearly and earning universal praise, no less capable than the old prince. Yet, observing his words and actions, his mindset and magnanimity seem rather limited. A man without distant worries will have immediate troubles. As the head of this household, I fear that I will have no face to meet our ancestors when we offer sacrifices to them in the future."

The old steward gently consoled him, "Yanbao has already dispatched people to Prince Jing'an to mobilize troops, hoping to settle this once and for all. Once thousands of cavalry from Xiangfan arrive, as long as the assassins leave any trace, they won't be able to escape. My only fear is that they are assassins who kill within ten paces and leave no trace for a thousand miles, having already vanished by now."

A trusted manor steward hurried in with a message, "Manor Lord, the Yanbao party was intercepted by scouts under Prince Jing'an less than ten li outside the manor. It turns out Prince Jing'an had already used his military tally to dispatch the entire Qingzhou Navy. Warships are lined up across the lake twenty li away, undetected only because of the heavy fog. Furthermore, over four thousand light cavalry have sealed off all routes, and dozens of scout teams are dispersed everywhere. At the slightest sign of trouble, they can close the net!"

After his initial surprise, Yu Chi Liangfu gave a bitter laugh, "This Prince Jing'an is truly a master strategist! So Kuai Xue Mountain Villa has become a fishpond, just waiting for the big fish to bite so they can be dragged ashore."

The old steward sighed with emotion, "It seems the imperial court isn't indifferent to this martial arts alliance leader election. Perhaps we have underestimated the court's determination to make Li Huoli the figurehead of the jianghu. Xie Lingzhen and Li Yibai might just be 'study companions for the crown prince,' merely a distraction to make the court's meddling in the martial arts world appear more palatable. Manor Lord, there's something I must say: fortune and misfortune are intertwined. For Kuai Xue Mountain Villa to turn ill fortune into good, distant water won't quench immediate thirst. We must quickly choose Prince Jing'an's estate as our nearby patron. After all, this new feudal lord, the first to inherit without interruption since the Spring and Autumn Period, is quite favored in the capital."

Yu Chi Liangfu waved the later arriving steward away, hesitatingly saying, "Let me think about it further."

The old steward anxiously said, "Manor Lord, time waits for no man!"

Yu Chi Liangfu's face showed anger, and he blurted out, "Are you truly suggesting that Duquan become a concubine to that young feudal lord who is constantly fixated on his late mother? Yu Chi Liangfu cannot gain wealth and glory by selling his own daughter!"

The old steward was silent, sighing, "It's a last resort. While it would preserve the manor, it would indeed bring hardship to the young lady."

Yu Chi Liangfu patted the old man's shoulder, apologizing, "Old Liu, I know you are loyal to the manor. But Duquan is my only daughter, and she has her late mother's stubborn nature. As her father, I must ensure her happiness. Marrying a poor boy who genuinely loves her would be better than marrying into a powerful noble family where she'd have no control over her life. Women are like duckweed; how many of them can truly live happily?"

The old steward nodded.

Yu Chi Liangfu rubbed his cheeks vigorously and said in a deep voice, "Wait a little longer!"

On the outer corridor, things were visibly much more relaxed compared to Yu Chi Liangfu and the old steward's predicament. Yu Chi Duquan volunteered, saying she could pole a boat to her residence. But when she approached the railing and tapped it, she immediately froze in dismay. She had eagerly disembarked earlier and forgotten to tie up the black-awning boat from the Jiangnan water town. Blown by the lake wind, there was no trace of the boat now. This made the embarrassed Yu Chi Duquan's pretty face flush, and she dared not meet Xu Fengnian and Lin Hongyuan's gaze.

Just then, a dark silhouette slowly emerged through the mist, appearing in everyone's view. A young, handsome Daoist, elegant as a jade tree in the wind, stood at the boat's bow. A delicate bamboo flute was tied at his waist, giving him the ethereal demeanor of an immortal. The Daoist traditions of the world revered Dragon Tiger Mountain as their ancestral home, and naturally, Daoist priests adorned in purple and yellow robes from Dragon Tiger Mountain were considered noble. Although the young Daoist before them was not dressed like the esteemed yellow and purple dignitaries of the Celestial Master's Residence, his demeanor, even in the simple, clean attire of an ordinary Dragon Tiger Mountain Daoist, was enough to make one forget the mundane world at a glance.

Lin Hongyuan narrowed her eyes slightly to conceal her schadenfreude. The main character had arrived. Moreover, this young Daoist, who had risen swiftly in the imperial court and gained great renown in the jianghu, did not disappoint Lin Hongyuan with his opening words. On the contrary, he spoke directly to the point, "I, Zhao Ningshen of Dragon Tiger Mountain, greet the young Palace Lord Lin and Miss Yu Chi. And this young master, your left hand, hidden in your sleeve, has been pierced by a sword. Would you allow this humble Daoist to be presumptuous and offer a bottle of our mountain's secret golden wound medicine?"

Xu Fengnian made no movement, remaining with his hands clasped in his sleeves beside the railing. Zhao Ningshen smiled warmly, "Besides returning the boat to Miss Yu Chi, I also have a return gift. I recall someone speaking ill of me on Daxueping and not returning a borrowed sword."

Xu Fengnian's reply sent Yu Chi Duquan's heart fluttering. Of course, she didn't care about any Dragon Tiger Mountain Daoist or a borrowed sword on Daxueping. This silly girl's loyalty unwaveringly lay with the man beside her. She only heard him ask, "Are you seeking death?"

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