Chapter Eleven: A Terrifying Masterstroke—Could There Be Another Expert?

Inside the private room, the familiar voices of Lu Xiaofeng and Ximen Chuixue echoed, their teasing tone irritating enough to make one want to punch them.

“Lu Little Chicken, aren’t you usually quite bold?”

“Guess. Guess bigger.”

“I don’t believe you can.”

Although Sikong Zhaixing’s words were annoying, they revealed a terrifying truth to Lu Xiaofeng.

That was, Lu Xiaofeng’s guesses were still not accurate enough—or rather, he had underestimated the situation!

Lu Xiaofeng stiffly turned his gaze toward Sikong Zhaixing. “This was your doing?”

“To catch a chicken in a jar, I specially reported to the prince and arranged for more experts to be dispatched, so you couldn’t escape with your lightness skill. After all, your Phoenix Dance in the Sky is peerless lightness skill; even I can’t be absolutely sure I could catch you within fifty miles. We can’t let you run.”

Sikong Zhaixing rarely saw Lu Xiaofeng at a loss and spoke proudly, as if he had accomplished something extraordinary.

Lu Xiaofeng glared at him through gritted teeth. “Well, thank you very much.”

He had already thought that having five Finger Xuan masters blocking the door and fifty more ready to besiege him was an unimaginable force. Yet this bastard Sikong Zhaixing still prepared even more contingencies?

This left him no room to survive!

Damn!

Lu Xiaofeng cursed silently, itching to strangle the smug Sikong Zhaixing before him.

Hua Manlou, listening to their conversation, couldn’t help but chuckle.

He sensed Sikong Zhaixing bore no ill will, so although worried, he wasn’t overly anxious.

“May I ask a question?”

“Go ahead. I’ll answer anything I can.”

“With your old monkey personality, why would you willingly serve the Prince of Su? That doesn’t suit you.” Lu Xiaofeng couldn’t help but voice his greatest doubt. Sikong Zhaixing was a free-spirited, unrestrained man—otherwise, he wouldn’t have earned the nickname ‘King of Thieves.’

From what he knew of Sikong Zhaixing, unless he had some unavoidable reason, he wouldn’t join any faction.

Why, then, had he joined the Su Prince’s household?

“That’s a long story. You’ll understand once you join the Su Prince’s household yourself,” Sikong Zhaixing finally said, avoiding explaining why he joined and leaving it for Lu Xiaofeng to discover.

He also revealed that his joining was voluntary, not forced.

“Is the idle chat over?”

The lead soldier of the Cangyun Army waited until their conversation ended before speaking: “Mr. Lu Xiaofeng, Mr. Hua Manlou, Mr. Ximen Chuixue, please come with us.”

“We actually have no choice, do we?” Lu Xiaofeng wiped his nose, resignedly stood up, and shot a fierce glare at the shameless Sikong Zhaixing.

Sikong Zhaixing knew Lu Xiaofeng was resentful but admitted this was indeed his own doing and could only endure it.

Still, he wondered where he had slipped up.

Hadn’t he just been persuading them as a friend?

Descending the stairs, they saw a young man sitting inside the inn—curly-haired, clad in blood-red robes. Lu Xiaofeng and Ximen Chuixue’s pupils contracted involuntarily.

“Is that really him?”

“Hm? Lu Xiaofeng, Ximen Chuixue, do you know who that is?” Hua Manlou, unable to see him clearly, noticed their shock and asked curiously.

“The master of Jiangnan Wugou Manor, one of the Six Gentlemen of the Martial World, the Infatuated Young Master, Lian Chengbi.”

“Is it really him?”

Hua Manlou exclaimed in surprise.

Lian Chengbi had always been a perfect man—noble lineage, graceful demeanor, strikingly handsome. Renowned as a prodigy since childhood, he was celebrated across the world at a young age, admired by all.

But everything changed three years ago, shortly after the alliance between the Lian family fortress and the Shen family of Lanzhou.

The Lian family fortress was wiped out overnight, with only Lian Chengbi and a few survivors escaping by luck. Lian Chengbi then disappeared from the martial world for a time; no one knew where he went or whom he met.

He reappeared two and a half years ago.

Clad in red, decisive and ruthless, bearing a terrifying celestial cultivation.

On his return to the martial world, he annihilated seven gangs and six sects of Jiangnan overnight, three noble families, and even killed the famed celestial grandmaster Xiao Yao Hou, known for his bizarre martial arts. Overnight, he became famous throughout the martial world and rebuilt the Lian family fortress.

No one expected to see him here.

“Seems the mystery of the Infatuated Young Master’s disappearance is finally solved,” Lu Xiaofeng said with a bitter smile, already the nth time today he had smiled more bitterly than in all past years combined.

He now understood what Sikong Zhaixing meant by ‘guess bigger.’

To ensure he wouldn’t escape, besides dozens of Finger Xuan masters blocking the door, they even dispatched a celestial grandmaster like Lian Chengbi.

They truly overestimated Lu Xiaofeng!

Ximen Chuixue and Hua Manlou remained silent.

No one in the entire Ming Empire would have guessed that Lian Chengbi, far away in Jiangnan, would join the distant Su Prince’s household thousands of miles away.

Sikong Zhaixing seemed well acquainted with the newcomer, lightly leaping to sit before him and greeting, “Old Lian, is it really you personally?”

“The prince worried something might go wrong. I happened to be back to report, so he ordered me to come oversee things,” Lian Chengbi smiled faintly, looking at the three descending the stairs. He cupped his fists: “Lu Xiaofeng, Hua Manlou, Ximen Chuixue, long time no see.”

“Greetings, Infatuated Young Master,” they nodded in return.

He was considered the foremost young figure in the Ming Empire—only twenty-four, already a celestial grandmaster, who once defeated Shaolin’s grandmaster Jie Jue in fewer than thirty moves and had killed other grandmasters. His renown far surpassed others in the martial world.

“Sikong Zhaixing has done me a great favor and is my friend. Since you are his friends, you are also my friends.”

“If you ever encounter difficulties in the martial world, send a letter to Jiangnan. I will do my utmost to assist without hesitation.”

This promise made Lu Xiaofeng, Ximen Chuixue, and Hua Manlou exchange surprised glances toward Sikong Zhaixing.

Lu Xiaofeng couldn’t help but wonder how much Sikong Zhaixing had helped Lian Chengbi to earn such respect from a celestial grandmaster so feared in the martial world.

“If there is still a chance,” Lu Xiaofeng responded politely, shrugging.

Facing the Su Prince, where life and death were uncertain, he had no confidence either.

“Heh.” Lian Chengbi smiled faintly, glancing at Sikong Zhaixing, who winked at him knowingly and said nothing but smiled lightly.

“Sikong Zhaixing often praises how clever and formidable you are, Lu Xiaofeng. I have long admired you from afar. After you finish here, I have prepared a banquet at the Listening Rain Pavilion in Lanzhou. You must honor us with your presence.”

“Such a gracious invitation from the Infatuated Young Master, how could we refuse?” Lu Xiaofeng brightened, inwardly thinking, “Perhaps my worries were unnecessary?”

With Lian Chengbi’s words, Lu Xiaofeng felt considerably reassured and agreed.

Ximen Chuixue and Hua Manlou nodded as well.

They were all intelligent men and could already infer much from Lian Chengbi’s demeanor.

“In that case, safe travels,” Lian Chengbi stood, raising his cup of tea in lieu of wine, drinking it down, and did not follow them out. Though he was ordered to oversee, his duties extended beyond this matter alone.