At that moment, something flickered faintly outside the house. Cheng Yunpao looked up—sword light! Just as his focus wavered, a palm strike swept toward his back with chilling intent. Startled, Cheng Yunpao countered instinctively. With a sharp "crack," their palms collided. He turned to face his assailant—a figure clad in white with gray-streaked hair, dressed almost identically to Tang Lici, their delicate features bearing a striking resemblance as well. Cheng Yunpao's fury erupted. "Evil creature sowing chaos, your life is forfeit!" The figure flicked their sleeve, sending two objects hurtling toward him. Cheng Yunpao's sword cleaved through the wind with a hiss, thrusting toward the intruder's chest. Without parrying, the assailant shattered the window in retreat, splinters flying as startled cries rose outside. Cheng Yunpao pursued through the broken frame, but the figure had vanished without a trace. Only two Emei Sect disciples stood frozen outside, pointing uncertainly toward Tang Lici's courtyard. "Cheng Daxia... that... that seemed to be Young Master Tang just now..." But why would Tang Lici attack Cheng Yunpao? It made no sense...
Cheng Yunpao snorted heavily, barely restraining the urge to snap that it wasn't Tang Lici. Yu Konghou had begun framing Tang Lici, who was deliberately playing into the scheme—he couldn't outright deny the impersonation.
Besides, at a fleeting glance, distinguishing the assailant was impossible. He only knew instinctively it wasn't Tang Lici. But instinct wasn't proof. Returning inside, Cheng Yunpao retrieved the two objects left behind: a pair of perfectly round pearls—Tang Lici's signature hidden weapons.
His mood darkened as he set his sword on the table and sat in silence. What earth-shattering upheaval was Good Cloud Mountain about to face?
Soon after, Meng Qinglei, Yu Furen, and others rushed over upon hearing of the ambush, connecting it to Tian Xunzi's murder. Cheng Yunpao remained silent, merely handing the pearls to Meng Qinglei. As the group examined them, confusion mounted. Wenxiu Shitai frowned first. "Aren't these Young Master Tang's hidden weapons?" Zhang Hemo demanded, "What did your attacker look like?" Cheng Yunpao replied flatly, "A fleeting glance—I couldn't see clearly." Zhang Hemo pressed, "Their clothing? Appearance?" After a pause, Cheng Yunpao gestured to the two Emei disciples outside, who chattered nervously about what they'd witnessed. The group exchanged uneasy glances, dread settling over them."This matter is extremely suspicious," Meng Qinglei said gravely. "Young Master Tang would 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 were to kill someone, he would never leave behind evidence..."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Yue immediately sneered. "Young Master Tang would never leave evidence if he killed someone—so what you're saying is, you don't actually believe in Young Master Tang, but rather in his ability to cover his tracks? Young Master Tang is deep and calculating. None of us know what he's truly thinking. Perhaps he has some sinister scheme, precisely because everyone assumes he's cautious, that he deliberately committed murder in broad daylight—letting you see it, yet refusing to believe it."
Qi Xing frowned. "Brother Zheng! Mind your words." Zheng Yue snorted, his face full of resentment.
After a round of heated discussion, Meng Qinglei said, "I think the only way to convince everyone is to have Young Master Tang explain this matter himself." Wenxiu Shitai and the others agreed, and so they all headed toward Tang Lici's courtyard.
Tang Lici's courtyard, renovated by the Ten Thousand Apertures House, was far more luxurious than the original Hall of Sharp Virtue. The garden was filled with elegant flowers, some of which were not suited to the humid climate of Good Cloud Mountain and had been forcibly planted—soon to wither. Yet at a glance, the exotic blooms floated amidst the white mist like a celestial paradise.
As they entered, the group fell silent. The beauty born from excessive wealth gave off a delicate sense of imbalance, as if it could be shattered with just a touch—so no one dared to act recklessly. Meng Qinglei gently knocked on Tang Lici's door. "Young Master Tang?"
The door opened at a push. Cheng Yunpao's heart skipped a beat, fearing that Tang Lici might have planted some evidence inside to frame him under Yu Konghou's influence, all to quickly move on to the next phase of his scheme.
Yet when the door opened, there was nothing unusual inside. Xue Xianzi remained seated cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed in meditation. Tang Lici leaned against the bed, also resting with closed eyes, his face slightly pale. Hearing the group enter, he slowly opened his eyes, a faint frown creasing his brow.
He had been truly exhausted these past few days. Seeing this, Cheng Yunpao and Meng Qinglei felt a pang of guilt, but Zhang Hemo asked, "Young Master Tang, someone just attempted to ambush Cheng Daxia. Fortunately, his martial skills are superb, and he escaped unharmed. Witnesses saw the assailant heading in this direction. Did you hear anything?"
Tang Lici's gaze swept over Cheng Yunpao, Meng Qinglei, Yu Furen, Wenxiu Shitai, and the others. "Hear anything?" His tone was calm. "No, I didn't hear anything."
Meng Qinglei was baffled. With Tang Lici's martial prowess, how could he have been completely unaware if someone had indeed come this way?
Wenxiu Shitai shot a glare at Qing'er and Fu Xiu behind her. "What is the meaning of this?"The two Emei disciples exchanged glances, then simultaneously pointed at Tang Lici's white robe. "It's absolutely true—we both saw Young Master Tang burst through Cheng Daxia's window wearing this exact garment. The patterns are identical." Wenxiu Shitai, Zhang Hemo, and Liu Hongfei shared a look. Although Qing'er and Fu Xiu hadn't seen Tang Lici today, their earlier descriptions of this white silk robe embroidered with faint cloud patterns had been remarkably accurate. How could they have guessed such details without witnessing it themselves? Yet Tang Lici claimed he hadn't heard any commotion—given his acute hearing, that was utterly impossible. Even without human activity, the constant sounds of birds, insects, rodents, and ants should have been noticeable. How could he claim to have heard nothing?
Cheng Yunpao unconsciously clenched his fists. Was this some kind of trick? A clever scheme to shift blame onto him while feigning innocence? Meng Qinglei opened his palm, revealing two pearls. "Do these belong to Young Master Tang?"
All eyes turned to Tang Lici, whose gaze briefly swept over the pearls before reaching into his robe. He produced a half-broken string of pearls, each similar in size and hue to those in Meng Qinglei's hand. "Perhaps they are, perhaps not." The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Given Tang Lici's extravagant nature, it was unlikely he'd memorize every pearl's exact shade and shape. Zhang Hemo, who initially doubted Tang Lici would attack Cheng Yunpao, now felt stirrings of suspicion. If Tang Lici had indeed ambushed Cheng Yunpao... what could his motive be?
"Does anyone else have pressing matters?" Tang Lici regarded the pearls in Meng Qinglei's hand with little surprise, his eyelids lowering slightly. "I happen to have news to share. Since everyone's gathered, I'll announce it now." The group murmured in surprise. "What news?"
"It concerns the antidote for the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill," Tang Lici stated calmly. "The cure has been found. Henceforth, none need fear the poison's threat, and afflicted disciples may rest assured." His understated delivery contrasted with the stunned reactions. Wenxiu Shitai gasped aloud, "You've obtained the antidote? How? Didn't Liu Yan proclaim to the world that the exchange would occur six months hence at Juelingding's Snow Eagle Abode? Have you discovered Liu Yan's whereabouts?" Tang Lici's gaze flickered toward her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Six months is too long to wait."
Wenxiu Shitai's disbelief mounted. "Do you know where Liu Yan is? Have you—have you been hiding him ever since you appeared at Beauty Abode with his letter? Is that why countless martial artists failed to locate him? It was you—it was you all along!" Several of her disciples had fallen victim to Liu Yan's schemes, including a particularly beloved junior. Her grief now curdled into venomous accusation. "You shielded that despicable villain deserving ten thousand deaths! Where is he? Now that the antidote exists—where is he?"
Wenxiu Shitai's fury ignited, and sect leaders stirred agitatedly. Though none of Zhang Hemo's followers had suffered from the Nine Hearts Pill, he too raised his voice: "If Young Master Tang knows Liu Yan's location, speak quickly! We'll carve that fiend into ten thousand pieces!"Tang Lici had hidden Liu Yan in Phoenix Cry Mountain, a fact known only to Yu Furen. Cheng Yunpao and Meng Qinglei were unaware of the specifics, merely aware that Tang Lici knew Liu Yan's whereabouts. Seeing the crowd's agitation, they couldn't help but tense up as well. After glancing at Wenxiu Shitai, Tang Lici closed his eyes as if he hadn't heard her accusations or noticed the murmurs among the sect leaders. "I have not hidden Liu Yan," he said coolly. "Nor do I know his current location."
The crowd was stunned. Yu Furen, standing among them, watched Tang Lici with admiration. He had clearly concealed Liu Yan, yet his detached and resolute tone when stating, "I have not hidden Liu Yan, nor do I know his current location," would make any uninformed person doubt he had done so. Yu Furen suddenly found it somewhat amusing—it reminded him of a child stubbornly insisting, "I didn't do anything," in front of their parents after misbehaving.
Cheng Yunpao stood silently in the crowd. Tang Lici's outright denial would only deepen suspicions—was this not an attempt to conceal the obvious? His hands trembled slightly, and he gripped his sword hilt tightly. His nervousness about the situation far exceeded his expectations, a sensation he had never experienced since he began practicing swordsmanship.
"Young Master Tang claims not to have hidden Liu Yan, yet how did you obtain the antidote for the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill?" Wenxiu Shitai demanded angrily. "Are you shielding that villain?" Tang Lici replied, "The details will be explained to everyone in due time." Pausing briefly, he opened his eyes. "The current priority is not Liu Yan's whereabouts, but how to swiftly dismantle the Dissolute Shop, effectively eliminate Gui Mudan and his faction, and minimize our own casualties. Isn't that so?"
Wenxiu Shitai faltered, rendered speechless. Tang Lici swept his sleeve across the tea set on the table, sending the exquisite porcelain cups and teapot crashing to the floor in pieces. He paid no heed, instead slowly tracing a circle on the wooden table with his finger. The table was hard and smooth, yet his finger carved a shallow but distinct groove into the surface. The sheer strength of his finger silenced the room instantly. "The Dissolute Shop's stronghold is in Bodhi Valley's Drifting Brow Garden," he said. "The area is dense with forests, shrouded in miasma, and though less damp than Good Cloud Mountain, it is even more stifling. It breeds many exotic flowers and unique poisons. The Dissolute Shop has operated in Bodhi Valley for a decade, constructing numerous traps and secret passages—Po Cheng Guaike's life's work is embedded there. As esteemed seniors of the martial world, do you have any strategies to leverage our strengths and avoid weaknesses, ensuring we gain the upper hand when attacking Drifting Brow Garden?"
The crowd exchanged glances. Zhang Hemo began to speak, and as he did, Tang Lici continued tracing lines with his finger. By the time Zhang Hemo finished, a map had taken shape on the table. Qi Xing studied it intently before suggesting, "Could we lure the Dissolute Shop's members out and engage them elsewhere?" Zheng Yue scoffed, "How is that possible—" Soon, the room erupted into a lively discussion of various assault strategies.
Cheng Yunpao never took his eyes off Tang Lici.
Only he knew that the grand scheme in Tang Lici's mind was unlike anything anyone else could imagine.
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