Just then, something flashed slightly outside the room. Cheng Yunpao looked up—sword light! At the very moment his mind was distracted, a palm strike came suddenly from behind, pressing toward his back. Cheng Yunpao realized this and counterattacked. With a “clap” sound, their palms met. He turned around—the person behind him wore white clothes and had gray hair, dressed remarkably similar to Tang Lici, about seventy to eighty percent alike. His facial features were refined and elegant, also resembling Tang Lici by about seventy to eighty percent. Cheng Yunpao’s anger erupted, “Demon that disturbs people’s hearts, surrender your life!” The person flicked his sleeves, and two objects shot out rapidly. Cheng Yunpao’s long sword swept like the wind as he thrust toward the attacker’s chest with a whoosh. The attacker didn’t parry but went with the momentum, breaking through the window. With a crash, wood fragments flew everywhere, and quite a few people outside cried out in alarm. Cheng Yunpao pursued through the window, but outside there was no trace—the person had already vanished. However, two female disciples from Mount Emei stood dazedly outside, pointing toward Tang Lici’s courtyard, looking at him with uncertain suspicion, “Hero Cheng, just now… just now it seemed like Young Master Tang…” But why would Tang Lici attack Cheng Yunpao? It made no sense…
Cheng Yunpao snorted heavily. He almost blurted out coldly that it wasn’t Tang Lici, but after enduring for a long time, he ultimately didn’t speak. Yu Konghou had begun plotting to frame Tang Lici, and Tang Lici intended to enter the trap—he couldn’t categorically insist that it wasn’t Tang Lici.
Moreover, with just a quick glimpse, he couldn’t distinguish who that person was at all. He only knew from impression and feeling that it absolutely wasn’t Tang Lici. Impressions and feelings couldn’t serve as evidence. Cheng Yunpao returned to his room and retrieved the two things the attacker had shot into the room—they were two round, lustrous pearls, also things Tang Lici habitually used.
His mood became incomparably heavy. He placed his long sword on the table and sat silently beside it. What kind of earth-shaking upheaval was Haoyun Mountain about to face?
Before long, Meng Qinglei, Yu Furen and others hurried over. Hearing that Cheng Yunpao had been attacked, everyone connected it to Tian Xunzi’s murder and came to inquire about clues. Cheng Yunpao remained silent, only handing the two pearls to Meng Qinglei. After everyone had examined them, they were all greatly puzzled. Master Wenxiu was the first to furrow her brow, “Aren’t these Young Master Tang’s hidden weapons?” Zhang Hemo asked loudly, “What did the person who ambushed you look like?” Cheng Yunpao said indifferently, “In a quick glimpse, I couldn’t see clearly.” Zhang Hemo asked again, “What clothes was he wearing? How was he dressed?” Cheng Yunpao paused and pointed to the two Emei disciples outside. Those two chattered away, recounting what they had seen. Everyone looked at each other, all horrified.
“This matter is extremely suspicious.” Meng Qinglei said in a deep voice, “Young Master Tang would absolutely never do such a thing. Why would he kill Tian Xunzi? Why would he kill Cheng Yunpao? Moreover, Young Master Tang has always been cautious in his actions. Even if he wanted to kill someone, he would never leave evidence…” Hearing this, Zheng Yue immediately sneered, “Young Master Tang would never leave evidence when killing—that is to say, you don’t trust Young Master Tang himself, but rather trust that he would never leave evidence? Young Master Tang is deeply scheming. What he usually thinks about, you and I have no idea. Perhaps he harbors other plots and knows everyone thinks he’s cautious, so he deliberately kills in broad daylight, letting you see it, yet you refuse to believe it even unto death.” Qi Xing frowned, “Brother Zheng! Watch your words.” Zheng Yue snorted, his face full of resentment. Everyone discussed noisily for a while, then Meng Qinglei said, “I think we should still ask Young Master Tang himself to explain this matter to convince everyone.” Master Wenxiu and others all agreed, and they all headed toward Tang Lici’s courtyard.
Tang Lici’s courtyard had been renovated by Wan Qiao Zhai and was even more magnificent than the original appearance of Shan Feng Hall. The courtyard had various elegant flowers, some not suited to Haoyun Mountain’s humid climate but forcibly planted there—they would die before long. But at first glance, the rare and exotic flowers floating in the white mist looked like a celestial pool.
When everyone entered, they couldn’t help but fall silent. This beauty displayed through excessive accumulation of wealth gave people a subtle sense of imbalance, as if it could be destroyed with just a fingertip, so no one dared act rashly. Meng Qinglei gently knocked on Tang Lici’s door, “Young Master Tang?”
The door opened with a push. Cheng Yunpao’s heart jumped, deeply fearing that Tang Lici had set up some evidence in the room to frame him according to Yu Konghou’s intentions, seeking to escape early to carry out the next step of his strategy. However, when the door opened, there was nothing strange in the room. Xue Xianzi still sat cross-legged on the bed with lowered brows and closed eyes. Tang Lici sat leaning against the bed, resting with closed eyes, his complexion slightly pale. Hearing everyone push the door and enter, he slowly opened his eyes, his brow slightly furrowed.
During these days, he had truly been very weary. Seeing this, Cheng Yunpao, Meng Qinglei and others felt ashamed. But Zhang Hemo asked, “Young Master Tang, someone just ambushed Hero Cheng. Fortunately, Hero Cheng’s martial arts are superb and he wasn’t in danger. Someone saw that person heading in your direction. Did you hear any disturbance?”
Tang Lici’s gaze swept across the faces of Cheng Yunpao, Meng Qinglei, Yu Furen, Master Wenxiu and others one by one, “Disturbance?” His tone was very calm, “I didn’t hear any disturbance.” Meng Qinglei was greatly puzzled. With Tang Lici’s martial arts, if someone had indeed come in his direction, how could he be completely unaware? Master Wenxiu glared at Qing’er and Fuxiu behind her, “What’s going on here?”
The two Emei disciples looked at each other and pointed together at the white robes Tang Lici was wearing, “Absolutely true—we both indeed saw Young Master Tang break through the window from Hero Cheng’s room, wearing exactly these clothes, with the patterns and designs not differing in the slightest.” Master Wenxiu, Zhang Hemo, and Liu Hongfei exchanged glances. Qing’er and Fuxiu hadn’t seen Tang Lici today, yet in their earlier description they had already clearly described this white silk robe embroidered with light cloud patterns. If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, how could they have guessed correctly? But Tang Lici said he hadn’t heard any disturbance—given his hearing ability, that would be absolutely impossible, wouldn’t it? Even if no one passed by, there were bird calls and insect chirping, mice burrowing and ants crawling—there were sounds every moment. How could he say he heard nothing?
Cheng Yunpao couldn’t help but clench his fists. This was a stratagem, wasn’t it? A clever stratagem of trying to cover up while actually revealing more, framing himself. Meng Qinglei spread open his palm, revealing the two pearls, “Are these Young Master Tang’s belongings?”
Everyone’s gaze focused on Tang Lici. Tang Lici’s eyes swept over the two pearls, then he reached into his robes and pulled out a string of pearls that was half scattered. Each pearl was similar in size to those in Meng Qinglei’s hand, and the colors were also coordinated, “Perhaps they are, perhaps they aren’t.” Everyone looked at each other. Given Tang Lici’s extravagance, naturally he wouldn’t remember the color and shape of every pearl in his possession. Zhang Hemo originally didn’t believe Tang Lici would attack Cheng Yunpao, but seeing this, he became somewhat suspicious, secretly wondering if it really was Tang Lici who ambushed Cheng Yunpao—what would be the reason?
“Do you all have other important matters?” Tang Lici looked at the pearls in Meng Qinglei’s hand without much surprise, slightly closing his eyes, “I happen to have something to tell everyone. Since everyone is here, let me speak now.” Everyone was surprised, “What matter?”
“It concerns the antidote to the Scarlet Ghost Nine Heart Pill.” Tang Lici said, “The method for detoxification has been found. You all need no longer fear the poison’s pressure, and the disciples who accidentally consumed the deadly poison can also rest easy.” He spoke very lightly, but everyone was greatly shocked. Master Wenxiu exclaimed, “You’ve already obtained the antidote to the Scarlet Ghost Nine Heart Pill? How did you obtain it? Didn’t Liu Yan send word throughout the world that in half a year at Snow Eagle Residence on Absolute Peak, he would exchange techniques for medicine? Could it be that you actually know Liu Yan’s whereabouts?” Tang Lici’s eyes moved, glancing at her, and he smiled slightly, “Half a year is too long—I couldn’t wait.” Master Wenxiu couldn’t believe it, “Do you know Liu Yan’s whereabouts? Have you—ever since you appeared at Beautiful Lady Residence holding Liu Yan’s letter—been hiding him all along? So among all the countless people in the martial world, no one could find him—it was you—it was you—” Several of her disciples had been harmed by Liu Yan, including one young disciple she was quite fond of. Now that her emotions were stirred up, she was filled with resentment, “It was you who hid that criminal who deserves death by ten thousand cuts. Where is he? Now that the antidote is available, where exactly is he?”
Master Wenxiu was furiously angry, and the various sect leaders also became excited. Although Zhang Hemo’s disciples hadn’t been harmed by the Scarlet Ghost Nine Heart Pill, he also loudly said, “If Young Master Tang knows Liu Yan’s whereabouts, please tell us quickly. We want to cut that villain into a thousand pieces and dismember him!”
Apart from Yu Furen, even Cheng Yunpao and Meng Qinglei didn’t know about Tang Lici hiding Liu Yan at Phoenix Cry Mountain. They only knew that Tang Lici knew Liu Yan’s whereabouts. Seeing the crowd’s excitement now, they couldn’t help but feel nervous as well. After Tang Lici glanced at Master Wenxiu, he closed his eyes, as if he hadn’t heard her questioning at all, nor seen the various sect leaders discussing heatedly, “I haven’t hidden Liu Yan.” He said indifferently, “Nor do I know where he is.”
Everyone was stunned. Yu Furen stood among the crowd, looking at Tang Lici with considerable admiration. He had clearly hidden Liu Yan away, yet could use such a cold, certain tone to say “I haven’t hidden Liu Yan, nor do I know where he is.” Those who didn’t know the truth would absolutely never believe he had actually done this. He suddenly felt somewhat amused—this was a bit like a child who had done something wrong stubbornly insisting to his parents “I didn’t do anything”… that kind of feeling.
Cheng Yunpao stood silently among the crowd. Tang Lici’s categorical denial would obviously only make everyone more suspicious—this was also a kind of strategy of trying to cover up while revealing more, wasn’t it? His hands trembled slightly as he gripped his sword hilt tightly. His nervousness about this matter far exceeded his imagination—this was a situation he had never experienced since he began practicing swordsmanship.
“Young Master Tang says he hasn’t hidden Liu Yan, so how did he obtain the antidote to the Scarlet Ghost Nine Heart Pill?” Master Wenxiu angrily demanded, “Are you protecting that villain?” Tang Lici said, “I will explain the detailed circumstances to everyone later.” After a slight pause, he opened his eyes, “The key at this moment is not where Liu Yan is, but how to destroy the Romantic Store as quickly as possible, how to effectively eliminate Gui Mudan’s gang, and how to minimize our side’s sacrifices, isn’t it?”
Master Wenxiu was suddenly stunned and speechless. Tang Lici swept his sleeve across the tea set on the table, and those valuable porcelain cups and teapots shattered on the ground. He paid no attention to this, slowly extending his finger to draw a circle on the wooden table. The wooden table was hard and smooth, yet Tang Lici drawing with just his finger could penetrate the table surface, creating a circle of moderate depth. This finger strength instantly made everyone fall silent. They heard him say, “The Romantic Store’s lair is at Drifting Eyebrow Garden in Bodhi Valley. That place is situated in dense forest, filled with miasma, not as humid as Haoyun Mountain but even more stifling, breeding many rare flowers and plants and unique poisons. The Romantic Store has operated in Bodhi Valley for ten years, setting up many mechanisms and secret passages. The City-Breaking Strange Guest’s life’s work is all applied there. You are all seniors of the martial world—do you have any methods to suggest that could utilize our strengths and avoid our weaknesses, allowing us to gain the upper hand when attacking Drifting Eyebrow Garden?”
Everyone looked at each other. Zhang Hemo began to speak, and while he was talking, Tang Lici continued drawing with his finger. By the time Zhang Hemo finished stating his proposal, a map had appeared on the table. Qi Xing stared at the map for a while, “Could we perhaps lure the snake from its hole, drawing the Romantic Store’s people to fight us decisively elsewhere?” Zheng Yue scoffed, “How is that possible…” Immediately everyone began talking at once, speaking freely about attack methods.
Cheng Yunpao kept watching Tang Lici.
Only he knew the grand strategy in Tang Lici’s heart, which was different from anyone’s imagination.