Good Cloud Mountain.
The sky had brightened. When Tang Lici woke, he realized he had been lying on the floor, the chair overturned beside him. He stood up, and only after a moment did he recall that he had fallen to the ground the night before and simply slept there. Fortunately, no one dared to approach his room lightly, so no one had noticed.
The room was heavy with dampness, the winter chill seeping into his bones. Having lain on the floor all night, a faint, dull ache pulsed in his abdomen. He pressed a hand to his stomach—the parasitic fetus inside remained unchanged. If this tumor had already devoured Fang Zhou’s heart entirely, then he truly had retained nothing. He still did not know how to deal with this tumor, yet he felt no regret.
Even if given the chance to do it all over again, he would still bury Fang Zhou’s heart within himself. The only difference would be that he would have stationed heavy guards at the Tang residence, ensuring no one could seize the ice coffin.
“Young Master.” Ziyun’s voice came from outside the door. “Swordsman Meng requests your presence in the main hall. He says the Dissolute Shop has sent a letter.”
He pushed open the door, and the crisp, cold air outside rushed over him. “Mm,” he responded indifferently, not sparing Ziyun a glance as he walked away at a leisurely pace.
Ziyun watched his shadow on the ground. She now understood what it meant to yearn for the unattainable—she could only gaze at Tang Lici’s shadow.
If she did not lower her eyes to look at his shadow, she would not even have that much.
In the main hall of the Hall of Sharp Virtue, Meng Qinglei held a letter in his hand. Cheng Yunpao sat nearby, his expression dark. The moment Tang Lici approached, Cheng Yunpao stood up. Meng Qinglei said, “The Dissolute Shop’s Gui Mudan has sent a letter, claiming they have Xue Xianzi in their custody. If we wish to spare Xue Xianzi’s life, we must exchange it for the life of one member of the Central Plains Sword Association.”
“A vicious scheme,” Cheng Yunpao said coldly. “This letter is meant to sow discord among us. Once the news spreads, panic will grip Good Cloud Mountain. Everyone will speculate whose life the Sword Association will sacrifice. If we refuse, others will call us heartless. If we actually go through with it, they’ll say that in the eyes of the Sword Association, some lives are worth their weight in gold, while others are no better than dogs.”
Tang Lici smiled faintly. “Isn’t that the truth? Some are indeed priceless, while others are no better than beasts.” After a brief pause, he continued gently, “I will consider the matter of the exchange. There will always be the most suitable candidate. Aside from this, has there been any news of Peach Girl?”
Cheng Yunpao stared at him in surprise before finally asking, “You wish for news of her?”
“I simply feel there should be news by now,” he said softly. The ache in his abdomen grew sharper. Pressing a hand to his stomach, he sat down in a chair, his brow slightly furrowed. “She cannot possibly stay away.”
Meng Qinglei, however, seemed pleased. “If Peach Girl can return safely, that would be even better.”
Cheng Yunpao scoffed. “What’s so great about her?”
“Peach Girl is sharp-witted and skilled in martial arts,” Meng Qinglei mused. “Besides, many of the heroes on the mountain came here for her sake. If she returns, it would greatly bolster morale.” His words were tactful, but it was true—many of the rough-and-tumble men on Good Cloud Mountain had been drawn by Xifang Tao’s enchanting beauty. Their lustful courage far outweighed any sense of righteousness."Pah!" Cheng Yunpao turned his head away. "You really don't suspect a thing." Meng Qinglei asked curiously, "Suspect what?" Cheng Yunpao glared coldly at the carved Grand Tutor Chair behind Meng Qinglei—the chair Xifang Tao often sat in during Sword Association meetings. "During the Sword Association gatherings, that black-clad killer would frequently appear, coming and going without a trace. On the day Plum Blossom Mountain was attacked, when Chi Yun died, she sent me to Fengyi, preventing me from lending aid. Abbot Puzhu used to be closely involved with the Sword Association, but ever since traveling with her and becoming abbot, he's turned a blind eye to major events in the martial world. On the day Shao Yanping died, though she wasn't at the Sword Association, who benefited the most afterward? During the Beauty Abode incident, Gui Mudan clearly intended to use Liu Yan to blackmail the heroes of the world. Yet she didn't go herself, instead sending me and Senior Dong—what was her motive? Have you truly never suspected her from start to finish?"
Meng Qinglei was shocked. "Are you saying she—she's actually an inside agent for the Dissolute Shop?" Cheng Yunpao sneered, "Are you truly unaware, or have you also been bewitched by her, pretending not to know?" Meng Qinglei steadied himself and exclaimed, "If she really is a spy for the Dissolute Shop, then who was it that pushed her off the cliff? Was it you?"
"Not me," Cheng Yunpao said coldly.
"It was me," Tang Lici said softly, picking up the teacup on the table and taking a sip.
Meng Qinglei gaped at Tang Lici, while Cheng Yunpao's sneer remained unchanged. Tang Lici's expression was calm—such a major matter, yet these two had kept it completely hidden. "But... but... if this gets out, the situation on the mountain will descend into chaos. Forget attacking Bodhi Valley, the Sword Association itself might not survive."
"Exactly," Tang Lici replied with a faint smile. "She's already established her authority. Uprooting her won't be easy—we mustn't act rashly." He took another sip of tea. "And precisely because she's established her authority, she can't afford not to return." Meng Qinglei frowned. "Strange. It's been quite some time since she fell off the cliff. If she has ulterior motives, why hasn't she returned sooner?" Tang Lici smiled again. "He has reasons he can't return."
"Reasons?" Meng Qinglei was baffled. "You know she has reasons?" Cheng Yunpao was also surprised. In truth, he had never seriously discussed Xifang Tao's suspicious behavior with Tang Lici—it had only come up by chance just now. Yet Tang Lici seemed to know her far better than expected?
"She's a man," Tang Lici said gently. "A man disguised as a woman—a very handsome man." Meng Qinglei gasped in shock, letting out an exclamation, while Cheng Yunpao was equally stunned. Meng Qinglei couldn't believe such a beautiful woman was actually a man in disguise, while Cheng Yunpao recalled that day in Xifang Tao's room when Tang Lici had passionately kissed her—it had felt indescribably strange. Tang Lici briefly explained how Yu Konghou had taken on the identity of "Xifang Tao," along with his entanglements with Xue Tao and Zhu Yan. "He was injured by Zhu Yan and can't return for now. But with Good Cloud Mountain's influence growing stronger, if he doesn't return soon, he'll be waiting for his own demise.""So that's how it is, that's how it is," Meng Qinglei murmured, his mind still in turmoil. "He's actually the master of the Dissolute Shop—utterly unbelievable. Alas, now that Senior Xue Xianzi has fallen into enemy hands and he is about to return, what should we do?" Tang Lici propped his chin on his hand. "This matter must not be spread. I had originally hoped to obtain the antidote for the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill before his return and mobilize forces to Bodhi Valley. Unfortunately, it seems this wish cannot be fulfilled now."
"The antidote for the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill?" Meng Qinglei's mouth fell open. "Could it be... Liu Yan is also in your hands?" Tang Lici's gaze swept over his face as he smiled faintly. "I never said that." Meng Qinglei's shock was filled with admiration—he had never seen someone with such capability, truly able to turn the tide single-handedly, manipulating events as if controlling the wind and clouds. Cheng Yunpao, however, thought deeper, his brows furrowing heavily. "The matter of Liu Yan being in your hands is of great significance. Once leaked, it could provoke hostility from the entire martial world. It must absolutely not be revealed." Meng Qinglei nodded. "I understand."
Tang Lici finished his tea and slowly set the cup back on the table. Just as the cup was about to touch the surface, his fingers trembled, and with a "clink," the porcelain cup fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. Cheng Yunpao and Meng Qinglei were stunned, watching as he frowned slightly and pressed a hand to his abdomen. "What's wrong?"
"It's... nothing," Tang Lici said softly, raising his right hand from his abdomen to cover his mouth. He endured for a while but still ended up vomiting the tea he had just drunk. "Cough... cough..." After spitting out the tea, he calmly took a silk handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe his mouth, then stood up. "I'll go change clothes."
He didn't give Cheng Yunpao and Meng Qinglei a chance to ask further, leaving unhurriedly with composed steps, even carrying a hint of leisurely grace.
Cheng Yunpao's brows furrowed deeply. Tang Lici's old injuries were likely worsening—his complexion had not been as good as before recently, which was another major crisis. Meng Qinglei, however, said, "Young Master Tang has already dispatched people to search for renowned physicians like Qiyang, Shen Xin, and Shui Duopo. According to reports, there's already news of Imperial Physician Qiyang, and he might arrive at Good Cloud Mountain soon." Cheng Yunpao relaxed slightly. "Since there's news of Qiyang, what about the other renowned figures in the martial world who are close to him, like White Hair, Gu She, and Yuxiu? Any news of them?"
"That might have to wait until Qiyang arrives to find out," Meng Qinglei sighed. "He's been in seclusion for years—finding his whereabouts is truly not easy."
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