As more and more people gathered, Huangfu Yuchen disappeared like a wisp of white smoke, flying towards the outskirts of the city.
“If you want to know the answer, keep up with me.”
“Trying to escape? It won’t be that easy!”
“Chase him!”
“Quick, don’t let him get away!”
Huangfu Yuchen’s figure soon vanished from everyone’s sight. The onlookers were amazed by his lightness skill and chased after him. Finally, in a forest on the outskirts, about ten miles away, they saw Huangfu Yuchen calmly standing under a pine tree. It was evident that he was waiting for them and had no intention of fleeing.
“You’ve got guts, kid,” someone challenged him with resentment.
The crowd surrounded Huangfu Yuchen.
Huangfu Yuchen’s gaze swept across the faces of everyone present, wondering if the person who caused Yan Jin’s unconsciousness was among them. If it was indeed someone’s doing, what was their motive? Could it be for Yan Ge? No, besides Yan Jin, Yan Ge, and himself, no one else in this world knew about the connection between Yan Jin and Yan Ge. If the person’s target wasn’t Yan Ge, what could their motive be? It was all like a fog, and Huangfu Yuchen could only peel away the layers one by one.
“It seems that each of you has something to discuss with me. I can answer your questions, but before that, you must answer a few questions for me. Otherwise, taking the Zhantian Vine from my hands won’t be so easy. You all just witnessed my lightness skill. Is there anyone who believes they can catch up with me?” Huangfu Yuchen said calmly, his composure giving him the upper hand in this confrontation.
The crowd exchanged glances, but they had no choice but to comply.
“Ask your questions.”
“First, tell me who informed you about my whereabouts.”
The crowd started talking all at once, but their answers were similar: the Centipede Organization.
The Holy Maiden Mingyue nodded in agreement. “That’s correct. They call themselves the ‘Centipede’.”
Huangfu Yuchen continued, “Among you, who was present at Xiguan Pass the day before and on the day I took away the Zhantian Vine? Step forward.”
“Why?” someone asked.
Huangfu Yuchen replied lightly, “Right now, I’m the one asking the questions, not you.”
The person fell silent.
Everyone present was accustomed to the martial world and wasn’t afraid of anyone in particular. Those who were at Xiguan Pass stepped forward, totaling over a hundred people. Li Po, Zhong Xie, Pei Jinde and his wife, the three elders of the Black Tiger Sect, and Yin Sha were among them. Other than them, Huangfu Yuchen didn’t recognize or have any impression of the others.
Huangfu Yuchen examined each of them, but it was difficult to determine who was the most suspicious in Yan Jin’s unconsciousness.
“Are all of you here for the Zhantian Vine?”
“Sorry, I’m just an escort passing by. I came to watch the excitement,” Zhong Xie said, quickly stepping aside as if he was afraid that Huangfu Yuchen would come after him.
Huang Shuya pulled Pei Jinde back and said, “We’re just here to join the fun and see the Zhantian Vine.”
“I am!” Elder Gray Eagle stepped forward proudly.
Huangfu Yuchen casually replied, “It’s not so easy to make me answer questions. Defeat me first, then we’ll talk.”
Elder Black Tiger said, “Are you stalling for time? Can you inform us where Madam Luo is?”
Huangfu Yuchen calmly said, “Are you afraid of losing?”
“Fine!” Black Tiger Elder sneered, “However, it is widely known that the three of us brothers never distinguish between you and me, always acting together.”
For a moment, Huangfu Yuchen’s thoughts drifted. If his beloved were here, he would surely make fun of them, saying they even approached marriage together.
Yin Sha signaled to Holy Maiden Mingyue.
“Hold on,” Holy Maiden Mingyue spoke up to stop them.
Everyone turned to look at her.
Mingyue said, “Our leader is not here to deal with the Zhantian Vine, but rather to seek an explanation from Young Master Luo for taking away the sacrificial offering that day.”
Among everyone, Huangfu Yuchen found Yin Sha the most suspicious. They were able to use the mysterious gem to worship the moon, perhaps they had other secretive means. He maintained a calm demeanor and raised his hand, saying, “The same goes for me. Defeat me, then I will ask questions.”
Yin Sha took two steps forward.
Rumors said that the leader of the Luna Worshipping Sect was ruthless and merciless. If he killed Luo Fang first, where would they find the Zhantian Vine?
Elder Black Tiger blocked Yin Sha’s path and spoke with a heavy tone, “Respected Master of the Luna Worshipping Sect, everything should be done in order—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Yin Sha’s gray pupils suddenly turned black, and his sharp gaze pierced into his eyes like two black thorns.
Elder Black Tiger sneered and without turning his head, he gestured to the toher two elders. The three of them surrounded Yin Sha.
“I’ve heard that the leader of the Luna Worshipping Sect possesses extraordinary and mysterious martial arts skills. Today, it’s a rare opportunity, and I should take the chance to learn from you,” Elder Gray Eagle chuckled.
Yin Sha spoke for the first time, his voice deep and hollow, filled with chilling Yin energy, as if it came from the underworld, “Those who block my path shall die.”
Elder Black Tiger paid no attention and shouted, “Attack!”
The three of them launched an assault on Yin Sha together.
The higher someone’s martial arts skill, the more likely they posed a threat. Huangfu Yuchen approached a chubby man and asked, “Do you know the top five martial artists among everyone present here?”
The man glanced at him lightly and looked elsewhere, saying, “Why should I tell you?”
Huangfu Yuchen took out a golden card from his sleeve pocket and handed it to him.
The man caught a glimpse of the words “Liuxuan Pavilion” on the card, and his face twitched with excitement. He reached out to take it but hesitated, looking at Huangfu Yuchen suspiciously, “Wait a minute. How do you know I would want this?”
Huangfu Yuchen’s gaze glanced at the man’s belly and then at a fishbone stuck on his collar. His slender finger pointed at the cloth bag hanging diagonally from the man’s shoulder, from which a faint aroma of roasted chicken emanated. All these signs proved that this man loved food.
“Well, how can you be certain that I know who among everyone here ranks in the top five in martial arts?” the man asked again.
Huangfu Yuchen replied, “When you appeared earlier, many people greeted you, indicating that you have considerable prestige in the martial world.”
Zhong Xie, who had come over at some point, looked at the golden card with envy. “This is ‘Food God’ Xu Yingchu, a senior. Most of us wandering the martial world are poor, and our wealth is not enough to afford three meals at Liuxian Pavilion. I heard that the gold card from Liuxian Residence not only offers a twenty percent discount but also provides first-class service. In the capital, it represents wealth and status. Having money and power is not enough; this card proves that you are a true noble. Young Master Luo, why didn’t you ask me? I know too.”
Food God was afraid that Huangfu Yuchen would change his mind, so he snatched the gold card from Huangfu Yuchen and tucked it into the chest of his robe. He pressed it down and said, “I do know the answer to your question. However, in the past year, I have rarely moved in the martial world. If I am mistaken, my friends, please do not take offense.”
With that, he bowed to the people around him, wearing a friendly smile.
Then, he turned to Huangfu Yuchen and said, “The first one is undoubtedly Senior Ying, the venerable elder.”
Huangfu Yuchen glanced behind him and only then did he notice that Elder Yingzun had quietly appeared, standing quietly outside the crowd.
His heart couldn’t help but skip a beat. If suspicion was the criterion, Elder Yingzun was no exception. Martial arts aside, Elder Yingzun was already 150 years old and had insights beyond ordinary people. Perhaps he knew some special techniques as well.
Elder Yingzun walked slowly, his robe fluttering gently in the wind. With a smile, he said, “Young Master Luo, we meet again.”
Huangfu Yuchen paused for a moment, cupped his hands, and said, “My son has fallen ill. I presumptuously ask, does Elder Yingzun know the reason?”
Elder Yingzun shook his head, his expression calm, his gaze distant. “Slaves have only one son, and the Huai River is dry. A bird falsely flies to the sky, while a turtledove sends itself away. Trimming an inch off the shadow, only emptiness remains. I advise you not to overthink, for fear of losing control.”
Zhong Xie and Food God looked at each other, bewildered.
However, Huangfu Yuchen was secretly taken aback, his eyes filled with determination. ‘One son’ means without daughters, and the character ‘nu’ in ‘nu’ zi is replaced with ‘you.’ The character ‘huai’ without water becomes ‘zhui,’ and adding ‘zhui’ to ‘you’ becomes ‘nan.’ Removing the bird from the character ‘ji’ and replacing ‘qiexiangsong’ in ‘sui’ with ‘zhui’ also becomes ‘nan.’ Trimming the ‘cun’ from the character ‘dui’ becomes ‘you,’ and ‘wuyan’ means ‘no mouth,’ so removing ‘kou’ from the character ‘wei’ also becomes ‘nan.’
‘Xin you yu’ means ‘insufficient strength,’ so removing ‘li’ from the character ‘quan’ becomes ‘you,’ and the character ‘tui’ meaning ‘lose control’ is also ‘zhui.’ The four lines of poetry contain four ‘nan,’ clearly indicating that great difficulties are about to arise, and he intentionally came here to offer assistance.
“Thank you,” Huangfu Yuchen bowed again, clasping his hands. “I have misunderstood your noble intentions.”
“Young Master Luo, there’s no need for such formalities,” Elder Yingzun responded, stroking his beard with a gentle smile. He exuded an air of magnanimity and tolerance.
Food God held the golden card against his chest. “Well, Young Master Luo, do you still want to know who the other four individuals are?”
“Please, go ahead,” Huangfu Yuchen raised his hand.
Some martial artists from the martial world were drawn to the conversation, diverting their attention from the intense battle between the other four individuals, gathering around them.
Food God said, “The second one is likely the leader of the Luna Worshipping Sect.”
Some people expressed doubts, “The leader of the Luna Worshipping Sect is indeed mysterious, but he rarely engages in physical combat. How can you know the extent of his martial arts prowess without witnessing it firsthand?”
Food God chuckled, “Although I haven’t seen it myself, we can see it now, can’t we? The Elders of the Black Tiger sect were once formidable opponents who challenged the three great masters of Great Han. They have been fighting for at least two hundred moves, yet the outcome is still undecided. Doesn’t that prove the high level of his martial arts? Furthermore, everyone knows about the Jade Hall’s domination of the martial world ten years ago. The leader of the Luna Worshipping Sect single-handedly defeated over twenty experts from the Jade Hall, although we still don’t know the reason behind it. However, the Luna Worshipping Sect does not deny this fact. Isn’t that evidence enough?”
The crowd nodded in agreement.
“That’s a reasonable argument, indeed…”
