As his voice fell, a figure appeared in the courtyard. It was a middle-aged man dressed in black, dignified in appearance and imposing in bearing, yet his eyes seemed to carry an ever-present, cynical sneer.
Leng Jiangzhu had never met him, but Zeng Yi recognized him at once. "The Clear Frost Swordsman, Sima Fei?"
Sima Fei smiled faintly. "None other."
Of the Seven Great Sword Sects of the Central Plains, four—Bashan, Meishan, Qingyang, and Yucang—were located in Chuanxi Circuit. In Chuannan Circuit, there was also the Snow Mountain Sect, which was by no means weak. In the land of Bashu, the practice of the sword flourished immensely, producing generation after generation of renowned swordmasters.
Under such circumstances, Sima Fei had carved out a name for himself with nothing more than his lone blade across both Chuan circuits and ascended to the Xiantian realm, which spoke volumes of his talent.
More importantly, he maintained excellent ties with Huichun Valley and was said to be on intimate terms with Shangguan Tusu, frequently visiting the valley as a guest. When news had been spread on behalf of Huichun Valley back then, he had been one of the very messengers.
Sima Fei glanced at Zeng Yi and Hu Qing, completely ignoring Zhao Shan and Zhao He perched upon the roof, and fixed his gaze solely upon Leng Jiangzhu and Fang Shaobai.
"The young lady bears the surname Leng." Sima Fei's eyes flickered. "Could you be Leng Jiangzhu, the head disciple of this generation of the Meishan Sect?"
Leng Jiangzhu's expression was indifferent. "And what if I am?"
A smirk curled the corner of Sima Fei's lips. "That day, Sun Wenzhu schemed in secret against Brother Shangguan. Failing in his attempt, he was gravely wounded by Brother Shangguan. By all rights, he shouldn't have been able to flee far, yet he had an accomplice waiting in the dense forest three li away, who whisked him away to safety."
Leng Jiangzhu replied, "That was me."
Sima Fei arched a brow, putting on an air of sudden realization.
Zeng Yi and Hu Qing, however, were shocked to the core. They had come expressly to aid Huichun Valley in slaying the traitor, never imagining that their own junior martial sister, Leng Jiangzhu, had become entangled in the affair—and had even aided the culprit!
"Junior Sister, what is the meaning of this?" Hu Qing asked in utter astonishment. "How could you be with Sun Wenzhu?"
Zeng Yi's eyelids twitched as a realization struck her.
Back when Leng Jiangzhu and Sun Wenzhu had returned together to the two Chuan circuits, she had not gone back to Mount Mei. Instead, she had sent a letter up the mountain via messenger, claiming she wished to roam the jianghu.
For children of the jianghu to travel the world was perfectly ordinary. Moreover, Leng Jiangzhu had already attained the Xiantian realm at the tender age of eighteen; previously, she had only traveled near Mount Mei, so it was indeed high time for her to see the realm.
Zeng Yi had been present when the messenger arrived with the letter and had heard him mention that there was another man at Leng Jiangzhu's side.
The members of the Meishan Sect had paid it no mind at the time, assuming the man was someone from one of the other three sword sects. If he could travel alongside Leng Jiangzhu, it would have put their minds even more at ease.
Thinking back now, Zeng Yi wondered: could that man have been Sun Wenzhu all along?
If so, did that not mean Leng Jiangzhu had already been traveling with Sun Wenzhu for nearly half a year?
The next instant, she saw Sima Fei smile meaningfully. "I've heard that this Sun Wenzhu has a face like fine jade, handsome and dashing. It's hardly surprising that he could win the favor of a heroine from the Meishan Sect."
"Sima Fei! Keep your filthy mouth shut!" Hu Qing snapped angrily. "How could our Junior Sister Leng ever consort with a traitor who betrayed his master and turned against his own sect?"
"Brother Sun is no traitor who betrayed his master! It is Shangguan Tusu who murdered his master and turned against his sect!" Leng Jiangzhu said, shaking her head.
Hu Qing whipped around in shock, momentarily at a loss for words.
Zeng Yi, however, had already anticipated this. Reaching out, she held Hu Qing back to stop her from speaking further, then stepped beside Leng Jiangzhu. "Junior Sister, do not be flustered. Explain the situation clearly."
"Shangguan Tusu is the true culprit who murdered Old Valley Master Sun. Brother Sun discovered this and had no choice but to flee Huichun Valley to bide his time for revenge." Leng Jiangzhu laid out the matter in a few brief sentences.
The problem, however, was that no one believed it.
Leave aside Sima Fei; not even Zeng Yi and Hu Qing could bring themselves to believe her.
"Old Valley Master Sun was already nearly ninety years old three years ago, and Shangguan Tusu was the sole successor. Why would he murder Old Valley Master Sun?" Hu Qing asked, bewildered.
Leng Jiangzhu fell silent. Never mind her not knowing—even Sun Wenzhu did not know the reason.
Zeng Yi asked, "Does Sun Wenzhu have proof?"
Leng Jiangzhu shook her head. "No."
Zeng Yi was rendered speechless; there was no way to continue the conversation.
Sima Fei let out a laugh. Glancing at the slightly older Zeng Yi, he nodded with feigned sympathy. "Miss Leng is young, so falling for the sweet words and deceit of a scoundrel is understandable."
Hu Qing turned back and barked sharply, "Sima Fei! Just because you failed in wooing my martial aunt all those years ago, you harbor resentment toward our Meishan Sect. We've overlooked that and haven't bothered lowering ourselves to your level. But Junior Sister Leng is our sect's head disciple! If you speak disrespectfully once more, do you think there is no one left in our sect to put you in your place?"
Even though Hu Qing did not believe Leng Jiangzhu's words, she was still her fellow disciple. Among themselves, they could say whatever they pleased, but an outsider had no right to meddle—not even a Xiantian expert!
Sima Fei's face hardened as well.
Ever since his ascension to Xiantian, when had he ever been berated like this by a Houtian martial artist?
Did the Meishan Sect truly believe everyone feared them?
"The Meishan Sect's head disciple—what an illustrious title! Yet she willingly consorts with a villain who betrayed his master. Are others not even permitted to speak of it?" Sima Fei sneered. "With no evidence whatsoever, you get this agitated and throw yourself into his cause so completely. Could it be that even your body has—"
*Clang!*
Leng Jiangzhu drew her sword in a flash. Sima Fei felt only a gleam of sword light before the tip reached his throat.
With a cold snort, Sima Fei threw his body backward while drawing his blade, parrying Leng Jiangzhu's opening move, "Presenting Fresh Tea."
"Fine Seven Exquisite Forms! Let me see just how capable the head disciple of this generation of the Meishan Sect really is!" Sima Fei sneered.
Leng Jiangzhu offered no reply, simply swinging her sword relentlessly. Every strike of the Seven Exquisite Forms aimed for the kill. Though appearing graceful and delicate, each maneuver hid a needle within the silk, never straying an inch from Sima Fei's vital points.
Yet Sima Fei was a renowned expert for good reason. His Clear Frost Sword scattered flecks of clear frost under the moonlight, the blade-light shimmering between illusion and reality. In total silence, he wove a sword net that firmly ensnared Leng Jiangzhu.
Leng Jiangzhu pressed forward step by step while Sima Fei yielded ground step by step. It seemed as though Leng Jiangzhu held the upper hand, but in truth, Sima Fei was luring her away from the front of the room.
The next instant, Sima Fei flicked his wrist and angled his body, slipping past Leng Jiangzhu. Uniting man and blade into one, he charged straight toward the small cottage.
Leng Jiangzhu's martial prowess was certainly not weak. If Sima Fei wanted to defeat her, it would take at least thirty moves, and doing so without injuring her would be exceedingly difficult.
Naturally, he did not wish to harm Leng Jiangzhu—nor did he dare. The Meishan Sect was notorious for fiercely protecting its own. Gaining the upper hand in words was fine, but if he truly injured a member of the Meishan Sect—especially their new head disciple—he would not be able to shoulder the consequences.
Apart from Leng Jiangzhu, however, he feared no one present. Even when facing Sun Wenzhu's poisons, he possessed a safeguard given to him by Shangguan Tusu.
Yet the moment he drew near the room, Fang Shaobai drew his blade.
*Clang!*
A crisp sword chime rang out, and before Sima Fei's eyes, a sword lotus bloomed. Its twelve petals unfolded one by one, resembling a breathtaking lotus showcasing its ethereal beauty in the dark of night, utterly captivating.
Yet Sima Fei sensed an intense, searing killing intent lurking within.
Muffling a grunt, Sima Fei darted backward even faster than he had advanced, coming to a halt in the center of the courtyard. His eyes were grave. "The Azure Lotus Sword Song, the Twelve-Petaled Azure Lotus... You are the Little Sword Immortal, Fang Shaobai!"
At this age, with this sword art, and at this realm of cultivation, there was only one person under heaven who fit the description.
Zeng Yi and Hu Qing stared in shock at Fang Shaobai. A flicker of infatuation crossed Hu Qing's eyes, while Zeng Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Since Fang Shaobai was also involved and stood on the same side as Leng Jiangzhu, matters would be far easier to handle.
The Meishan Sect was naturally far stronger than Huichun Valley, but Huichun Valley's reputation was simply too untarnished. If word spread through the jianghu that Leng Jiangzhu, the Meishan Sect's head disciple, had fallen for a traitor of Huichun Valley, it would deal a heavy blow to their prestige.
"Brother Fang, there is one downside to your swordplay being so exceptional."
The window behind Fang Shaobai was pushed open, revealing Wang Yu's figure. "If you had let him slip past, Brother Sun could have made his move."
Fang Shaobai chuckled. "There was no need. In another three years, he won't be a match for Junior Sister Leng anyway. Wouldn't it be better to let Junior Sister Leng reclaim her own pride when the time comes?"
Having said that, Fang Shaobai turned around in surprise. "Wait, that's not right. Didn't you say it would take an entire night? How did you finish so quickly?"
Wang Yu held his head high with hands on his hips, turning over a palm. "Naturally, it is because of my profound cultivation and peerless efficiency! A mere trifling poison planted by Shangguan Tusu is nothing more than child's play to me!"
Fang Shaobai saw Sun Wenzhu beside Wang Yu let out a sigh, but surprisingly, he did not refute the claim. "Brother Zhao's cultivation is indeed profound, and his inner energy is extraordinary—even more formidable than I had anticipated."
He had no idea how Wang Yu had managed to strip away the poison's potency and draw it into his own body without suffering the slightest harm. But he was certain Wang Yu was no reckless fool who understood nothing; someone like that could never reach the Xiantian realm, let alone forge such miraculous inner energy that cultivated both ice and fire.
Sun Wenzhu turned toward Sima Fei, twitching his nose slightly, and could not help but smile faintly. "Shangguan Tusu has treated you rather well. He actually gifted you a piece of Hundred-Refined Poison Dragon Wood."
Sima Fei's eyes twitched, and he immediately stepped back two paces. "You used poison on me?"
Leng Jiangzhu turned and hurried to the window, looking at Sun Wenzhu with concern. "Are your injuries healed?"
Sun Wenzhu nodded. "Largely recovered."
"Many thanks, Brother Zhao!" Leng Jiangzhu cupped her fists toward Wang Yu.
Wang Yu waved his hand dismissively. "You're being too formal. If you keep acting this polite, I won't even know whether I should attend the wedding between you and Brother Sun."
Sun Wenzhu glared, opening his mouth to speak, but upon catching the look in Leng Jiangzhu's eyes, he forced himself to swallow his words.
Leng Jiangzhu offered a rare smile, though she deftly shifted the subject. "What is this Hundred-Refined Poison Dragon Wood?"
Sun Wenzhu explained, "Poison Dragon Wood is a medicinal wood that grows near serpents' nests, absorbing the venom of various venomous snakes as it matures. It takes several decades to grow to harvestable size. After being gathered, it must be soaked in a hundred medicinal herbs for three years to be completed, earning it the name Hundred-Refined Poison Dragon Wood.
"If worn on one's person, unless poison is swallowed directly into the stomach, nearly all toxic vapors and poison powders are useless against the bearer. Even if blood is drawn, pressing the Poison Dragon Wood against the wound can suppress the spread of the toxins.
"Though it cannot truly grant immunity to all poisons, it is rightfully considered a sacred item for dispelling toxins. Huichun Valley possesses only three pieces of Hundred-Refined Poison Dragon Wood in total. To think Shangguan Tusu would actually give him one."
Sima Fei shook his head. "A treasure of this caliber is not something I dare keep. Once I kill you, I shall return the Poison Dragon Wood to him."
Sun Wenzhu replied calmly, "You cannot kill me."
Chapter 137