The two hurried to the next courtyard, where resided a sect renowned for its mastery of poisons, ranking among the top three in the martial world. This sect was the kind that cared little for friendship but was certainly not to be made into an enemy. Yu Chilianfu had to be fully alert, for the sect’s eccentric old master was known for his peculiar tastes. To accommodate him, Kuai Xue Manor had specially hired two handsome young men from a high-class brothel in Xiangfan City and discreetly placed them among the maids, ready for any unforeseen circumstances. As Yu Chilianfu walked, he couldn’t help but marvel at the great expense the Manor had incurred in its bid to secure the title of Martial Alliance Leader. Not only had they spent heavily on the Spring Scroll Thatched Hall and the Eastern Yue Sword Pond, but even on seemingly trivial matters like food supplies, they spent over three thousand taels of silver daily. Not to mention the absurd additional costs such as renting out expensive young male entertainers from brothels.
Inside the courtyard, Lin Hongyuan walked along the outer corridor and saw Xu Fengnian sitting against the wall outside a door, busily tinkering with something. She smiled and said, “Have you heard? That Miss Yu has quite the infatuation with you.”
When Xu Fengnian looked up, his face was unfamiliar—he had donned a disguise mask, one he had acquired in the Northern Marches and had rarely used since. Smiling, he replied, “This young Miss Yu must have excellent taste indeed, perhaps unparalleled in the world.”
Lin Hongyuan’s lips twitched slightly.
Xu Fengnian stood and said with a grin, “Go get me a simple sable hat. Let’s make a bet.”
“A bet on what?” Lin Hongyuan asked.
Xu Fengnian interlaced his fingers behind his head and lazily shook it. “Bet that I can kill Xie Lingzhen tonight. If I succeed, you’ll tell me another Finger-Sky Secret besides the stone-inscription method. If I fail and get killed instead, you lose nothing.”
Lin Hongyuan scoffed, “I don’t act without profit. What do I care whether Xie Lingzhen lives or dies?”
Xu Fengnian smiled at her.
Lin Hongyuan giggled. “If you manage to kill Xie Lingzhen, Li Huoli, and Li Yibai all three, then I’ll take that bet.”
Xu Fengnian clicked his tongue. “Finally getting clever, huh? But let me be clear—I won’t kill Li Yibai. Do you have any enemies you’d like to replace him with?”
Without hesitation, Lin Hongyuan replied, “No problem. Then kill Yue Dunshan, Yue Ximan. I’ll get you the sable hat and the locations of their quarters in Kuai Xue Manor before nightfall.”
Xu Fengnian glanced at Lin Hongyuan, impressed. “You’re deep, aren’t you? You’ve had your eyes on that Yue fellow for a while, haven’t you? This time, not only have you come in disguise, but you’ve even brought Yang Maoliang, who infiltrated the palanquin bearers, all to target Yue Dunshan. You’re using me to do your killing, keeping your hands clean. And with Yu Duxuan as a witness, the Dragon Palace will be free of blame.”
Lin Hongyuan just grinned foolishly without speaking.
Xu Fengnian turned his gaze toward the distant mists of Spring Spirit Lake. Lin Hongyuan, with her sharp eyes, followed his line of sight but saw nothing. Moments later, a woman’s voice called out, “Is this where the Southern Marsh Dragon Palace resides? If not, I won’t come ashore.”
Lin Hongyuan approached the railing and saw a young woman of only modest beauty but with an especially alluring figure, rowing a boat alone. Her fur coat was of high quality, though faded with age. The novelty of her arrival startled Lin Hongyuan, though she calmly asked, “Are you Yu Duxuan?”
The woman nodded. “And you are?”
Lin Hongyuan noticed that Xu Fengnian had already vanished, deepening her understanding of him. Facing the daughter of Kuai Xue Manor, she smiled and said, “I am Lin Hongyuan of the Dragon Palace. Pleased to meet you, Senior Yu.”
Yu Duxuan set down her oar and leapt nimbly onto the corridor, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You’re the young princess of the Dragon Palace?”
Normally, Lin Hongyuan wouldn’t have cared, but having heard of the young devil’s harsh treatment of female martial artists, she felt a little uneasy.
Yu Duxuan paid no heed to formalities and warmly took Lin Hongyuan’s hands. “Miss Lin, is it true that your Dragon Palace is actually built beneath the sea?”
Lin Hongyuan thought to herself, *So this girl admires that fellow, but it doesn’t seem all that impressive.*
But then, unexpectedly, Yu Duxuan’s expression suddenly turned cold. “Stop hiding! Come out, you big man! Hey, you in there, I’m talking to you! You were just on the corridor, and now you’re no more than three zhang away. Don’t think I don’t know you’re there just because you’re behind a wall!”
Lin Hongyuan was stunned. Could this girl be of the same ruthless breed as that Xu fellow, pretending to be innocent while secretly dangerous?
Inside the room, Xu Fengnian was equally surprised. After a moment’s hesitation, he stepped out. Lin Hongyuan, standing beside Yu Duxuan, subtly raised her hand and made a sharp slashing motion, silently asking if she should eliminate this potential threat. Xu Fengnian ignored her, still preparing his words. But before he could speak, the girl suddenly fixed her gaze on his white hair. With a sudden leap, she was nose to nose with him, shouting, “Ha! I knew it was you, Xu Fengnian! Northern Liang…”
Before she could say “Prince,” Xu Fengnian swiftly struck her neck, knocking her out.
To his surprise, the move, meant more as a test than a killing blow, was effective. She rolled her eyes and collapsed into his arms.
Was that all?
Lin Hongyuan was disappointed. She had hoped for a fierce duel between Yu Duxuan and Xu Fengnian, a battle that would rage from the corridor onto the lake.
Glancing at her, Xu Fengnian raised an eyebrow. “Are you going deaf? Should I even bother sending you to Yu Duxuan’s pavilion? If the manor can’t find her, how will this end?”
Without hesitation, Xu Fengnian replied, “Go drink. Get a pot, get yourself drunk, and then pour some into her mouth. If anyone asks, say you hit it off and were helping her back. As for the sable hat and the locations of the three men—handle them as planned. One night will be enough.”
Lin Hongyuan remained silent.
Still holding Yu Duxuan, Xu Fengnian frowned. “Are you deaf?”
Lin Hongyuan sighed. “No wonder Master Nalan praised you behind your back.”
Xu Fengnian slung Yu Duxuan over his shoulder and walked back inside, smirking. “You think that was praise? A real smart person never lets their opponent know how clever they are before the fight.”
Lin Hongyuan followed behind, smiling to herself. If she ever got the chance to make a mustache for him, she wouldn’t give him the mute potion after all. Listening to him speak, whether it made sense or not, was quite entertaining.
Xu Fengnian casually tossed the unconscious Yu Duxuan onto an armchair and began to meditate. Less than half an hour later, as dusk approached, Zhao Weiping entered and handed Lin Hongyuan a sable hat and a handkerchief. After carefully reading it, she tucked it into her sleeve and went to a corner of the hall. She pulled out a branch of plum blossom from a vase, its yellow flowers still fresh and glistening with water droplets. She squatted beside Xu Fengnian, describing the layout of Kuai Xue Manor while sketching it out on the floor. The courtyards of Xie Lingzhen from the Spring Scroll Thatched Hall and Li Huoli from the Yan Fortress were close due to their similar statuses, but Yue Ximan was nearly half a li away. Taking detours into account, it could be a full li. That half-li difference might hide significant complications. Throughout her explanation, Lin Hongyuan remained concise, knowing the devil wouldn’t recklessly dash across the rooftops of Kuai Xue Manor.
Xu Fengnian closed his eyes and reviewed the plan, then nodded. “Alright.”
Lin Hongyuan asked nervously, “Can you at least tell me the general plan?”
Xu Fengnian replied flatly, “The simplest way possible.”
Which meant nothing at all. Lin Hongyuan lacked the courage to press further.
Yu Duxuan let out a faint groan, which might have sounded enticing to a seasoned womanizer. Xu Fengnian considered knocking her out again to let her sleep through the night, but instead gave her a gentle slap on the face.
Yu Duxuan struggled to open her eyes, dazed.
Xu Fengnian sat opposite her on another armchair and said calmly, “Answer whatever I ask.”
She nodded weakly.
“How did you know I was here?”
Yu Duxuan slowly regained some clarity, though she still felt weak. Wanting to speak louder, she frowned and said, “I smelled you. I’ve always had a keen nose. My mother used to tease me, saying I was like a little dog. Why did you hit me?”
Xu Fengnian flicked a finger against her forehead, making her wince and shiver. She hugged herself, eyes glistening with tears. He stared into her eyes. “How did you know I was Xu Fengnian?”
She tried to smile but, seeing his raised hand, quickly said, “I first heard about you two years ago when I visited Longhu Mountain. A pilgrim who often went there spoke of the sword borrowing at Daxue Slope and your saying ‘return the…'”
Lin Hongyuan knew Yu Duxuan was too polite to say “return the f***ing…”
Glancing at Xu Fengnian’s impassive face, Yu Duxuan nervously continued, “My family owns land near the Guangling River. Everyone doubted you had a real conflict with the Guangling King, but I knew it was true. One of our managers saw it with his own eyes during the tide-watching festival on the 18th of August. He swore it was true. Later, storytellers from Northern Liang told tales of your journey through the Bai Ma and Northern Marches. At the start of the year, I listened to them almost every few days. They said you killed the Northern Court Grand Minister Xu Huainan and defeated the arrogant mountain lord of the Army-Raising Peak in a single move. That was when I first learned of the surname ‘Fifth.’ Another storyteller said you lent your sword to the Peach Blossom Sword God Deng Ta’a by merely flicking the sheath. And when Deng Ta’a only managed a draw against Tuoba Bodhisattva, you personally fought him for three days and nights, forcing him to swear never to cross south again…”
Lin Hongyuan struggled to suppress her laughter.
Xu Fengnian, listening to the exaggerated tales, didn’t bother to correct her, merely smiling and nodding.
Yu Duxuan grew more animated, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at this hero in her mind. “Then I heard that when the feudal lords entered the capital, you slashed through the entire central avenue in Tai’an City, killing hundreds of Imperial Academy students who stood in your way! And during the ceremony, if it weren’t for you alone stopping the unstoppable Cao Changqing, he would have killed the Emperor and all the ministers! Not even General Gu or Deputy Minister Lu could stop him.”
Even Xu Fengnian’s thick skin began to feel the strain. Lin Hongyuan turned away, unable to watch, pretending to fiddle with the poor plum blossom branch.
Xu Fengnian finally interrupted, “You believed all that?”
Yu Duxuan widened her eyes. “Isn’t it true?!”
Xu Fengnian, with a grave expression, slowly nodded. “Yes, it’s true.”
Lin Hongyuan couldn’t help but laugh, only to be kicked in the rear by Xu Fengnian, sending her sprawling face-first.
Ignoring Lin Hongyuan’s glare, Xu Fengnian smiled at the probably genuinely naive girl. “Don’t tell even your father I’m here.”
Yu Duxuan nodded eagerly. “I know. You must have important things to do, or you wouldn’t wear a mask.”
She suddenly fell silent.
It seemed even this girl had a moment of clarity. Xu Fengnian smiled and explained, “I have no grudge with your Kuai Xue Manor. I won’t harm your father.”
Yu Duxuan, returning to her usual self, asked, “Really?”
Xu Fengnian nodded. “Really.”
What a foolish girl.
Inside the room were three people: two worldly-wise outsiders, each as cunning as the other. And one lone woman who had arrived by boat, pure and simple, destined to be toyed with.
Yet, for reasons unknown, Lin Hongyuan, who had grown up in the filth of the world, found herself envying this girl’s innocent smile.
Xu Fengnian said nothing. Yu Duxuan grew increasingly uneasy, nervously twisting the hem of her old fur coat, regretting not wearing a new one today.
Finally, Xu Fengnian asked, “Do you know exactly when the lanterns are lit at night?”
Yu Duxuan, lost in thought, was startled. She sat upright and bit her lip. “On clear days, they’re lit when the last light fades. On snowy days, I’m not sure.”
Xu Fengnian nodded. “Go find a pot of wine.”
Relieved, she hurried off.
Lin Hongyuan suddenly remembered something and whispered, “Zhao Ningshen entered Kuai Xue Manor later than expected. Yu Chilianfu probably didn’t anticipate that her assigned quarters would be far from Xie Lingzhen, Li Huoli, and the others.”
Xu Fengnian chuckled, “You finally remembered? I thought you’d forget until I left. After I return, there will be no young princess of the Dragon Palace in Kuai Xue Manor, and no Lin Hongyuan leaving it.”
Lin Hongyuan was struck like by lightning, her face paling.
Yu Duxuan, familiar with her own home, quickly returned with a jar of wine. Xu Fengnian didn’t join her in drinking but took a chair made of yellow pear wood outside, sitting on the corridor to admire the lake view until dusk fell. Inside, whatever Lin Hongyuan said, Yu Duxuan didn’t dare to approach the corridor.
Xu Fengnian stood, took a deep breath, and stomped his foot. The lake water outside the railing rippled violently before settling down.
As night deepened, the red lanterns of the manor lit up one by one, casting a festive glow.
In a quiet courtyard, the hall was brightly lit with thick red candles as thick as a baby’s arm, yet it was empty. A young man, full of vigor, stood in the study, spinning a short halberd in his hand. He had ridden south from Ji Prefecture with four elite retainers, enduring two heavy snowfalls. The first had come while they were still north of the Yangtze River, a mighty blizzard. The second, in the south, was gentle and weak, leaving him with a poor impression of Jiangnan. He had seen many refined scholars along the way, but in his eyes, they were like that soft snow—fragile, unable to withstand even a single throw of his halberd.
His journey south had been accompanied by rumors, turning him from a border garrison officer into a potential Martial Alliance Leader. He found it absurd, yet he followed his father’s instructions. Upon arriving at the manor, wave after wave of visitors came to curry favor. He Reluctantly managed to chat with the first three groups of martial artists he’d never heard of before, but eventually grew tired and shut himself away. Standing at an open window, though only four of his Ji Prefecture retainers were resting in the courtyard, hidden in the shadows were no fewer than ten Zhao Gou agents.
He chuckled bitterly, tapping his shoulder with the halberd. “Am I really ‘ordained by Heaven’ this time?”
The ground trembled slightly.
Li Huoli didn’t think much of it. The wall exploded. As he turned with halberd raised, a hand slammed against his forehead, throwing him backward, his feet leaving the ground as he was slammed into the wall.
A Zhao Gou agent smashed through the window, eyes wide. The young master of Yan Fortress, Li Huoli, slumped against the wall, dead, his eyes wide open. A streak of blood slid down the wall behind him, and facing it was a large hole.
The dozen Zhao Gou agents gathered, staring at each other in shock.
Three courtyards away, the old Confucian scholar who had arrived by ox cart suddenly lifted his head, his hands forming a spell, and the ancient sword on the table in the next room flew into his hands through the wall.
Xie Lingzhen of the Spring Scroll Thatched Hall had devoted his life to the sword path, though he rarely used it. He had tested his sword against only a few, one of whom was the Sword Emperor of Western Shu. This sword had been a gift from his apprentice, a return gift for accepting him as a disciple. Xie Lingzhen had intended to borrow it after this matter at Kuai Xue Manor, to challenge the head of the Eastern Yue Sword Pond and prove that the Spring Scroll Thatched Hall was not only fit to be the Martial Alliance Leader but could stand equal to the sword sects.
The sword pierced the wall, and the audacious assassin followed.
“What good is a Diamond Body if you can’t stop this?”
Xie Lingzhen, still seated calmly, snorted and flicked his wrist. A sword wave surged forth like a flowing ink painting, depicting the beauty of the world.
The demon rushed forward, ignoring the sword tip aimed at his heart. Xie Lingzhen, furious, intensified the sword wave, a rainbow of energy.
The unknown killer startled the old master again. The sword tip pressed against his chest, yet instead of piercing through, it bent like a fish’s back.
Old age brings wisdom. Xie Lingzhen executed a sword-breaking move, retracting the sword while sliding backward with the chair, which shattered against the wall. With one hand on the wall and one still gripping the sword, he charged forward.
The mysterious young assassin in the sable hat, intent on death, thrust forward. Xie Lingzhen sneered inwardly and unleashed his sword intent in one final, glorious strike.
The assassin allowed the sword to pierce his palm, leaned in, and formed a strange posture as if shouldering the sword. He headbutted Xie Lingzhen.
Crack!
Xie Lingzhen’s head slammed against the wall.
But at the same time, he swung his sword sideways, aiming to sever the young man’s head.
An inch from the neck, the sword’s energy sliced a shallow cut.
A figure in a crimson robe appeared beside them, four arms gripping the blade, preventing it from moving.
The sable-hatted assassin slashed downward diagonally.
He retreated rapidly, the sword sliding from his pierced hand. He leapt from the wall’s crater.
A cold wind rushed in, flickering the lamp on the table.
The flame extinguished.
Only a body remained—cut in half at the waist.
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