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Chapter 200: The Storm is Brewing (Thanks to 'Yiyun' for the donation)
Li Ling nodded, agreeing with what Yi Yun said: the principles of the martial world must be earned through fists.
Then, Li Ling followed Yi Yun into the Famous Sword Manor, took Xueyan's hand, and told Yu'er to follow.
At this time, Xueyan was already four or five months pregnant, and her lower abdomen was already slightly bulging.
Just as Li Ling was about to inquire about Xueyan's health, he heard Yi Yun ask, "Feng'er, I thought Miss Qin was upright and righteous, she didn't seem like a spy for Qin Hui at all. How did you know that she and Zhang Qiqiao were Qin Hui's spies?"
Before this, Li Ling had already prepared his reason. He said directly, "Grandpa, I first met Miss Qin at the alliance meeting to rescue General Yue. At that time, she was being unreasonable and clearly intended to disrupt the meeting. However, her martial arts were inferior to mine, and I shattered her longsword. In addition, the snake demon attacked later, so I did not suspect her."
However, when she first came to the manor, she subtly inquired about various things, trying to find out about the Mingjian Manor, which aroused my suspicion. Therefore, after she left, I changed the positions and routines of many of my sentries.
Until last time, when Yi Tianxing brought her here for treatment, I had someone follow her when she left, and discovered that she had contact with Hongniang and Xuenu, two of the Four Demons of the Western Regions.
Yi Yun nodded knowingly: "I see. But how did you know that Zhang Qiqiao was also Qin Hui's subordinate, and that it was Miss Qin who killed Zhang Tao?"
"It's not that complicated!" Li Ling continued to explain, "When Zhang Qiqiao came to our Mingjian Manor, wanting us to go to Shaolin to find Zhang Junbao, I could tell that he had ill intentions towards our Mingjian Manor."
Therefore, after he left, I secretly followed him and discovered that he had summoned Miss Qin, Hongniang, and Xuenu to discuss matters. I also heard the fact that Zhang Tao was killed by them.
Zhang Tao's most fatal wound was a sword wound, and among the group, only Miss Qin wielded a sword, which is why I made this deduction.”
Listening to Li Ling's explanation, Yi Yun's eyes were full of satisfaction. He praised, "I see. Feng'er, I didn't expect that you not only have outstanding talent in martial arts, but also such a meticulous mind. In this respect, you are better than your father and Yi Tianxing combined!"
"Grandpa, you flatter me! However, despite my many searches in the desert, I have yet to find any clues about the Song princess. I have truly failed to live up to your expectations."
Upon entering the hall, Yi Yun sat down in the main seat. After Li Ling helped Xue Yan to her seat, he had Yu'er sit next to Xue Yan before sitting down himself.
"You don't need to blame yourself. Finding someone also depends on fate. Besides, more than ten years have passed. The little princess was just a baby back then; anything can happen. By the way, who is this girl who came back with you...?"
Yi Yun waved his hand, not blaming Li Ling for not finding any news about the princess, and then changed the subject, looking at Zhao Yu'er and asking.
Li Ling introduced, "Grandpa, this is Zhao Yu'er, a girl I met in the desert. Yu'er helped me a lot in the desert before. Because she always wanted to see what the Central Plains were like, she came here with me to take a look."
Zhao Yu'er stood up and respectfully bowed to Yi Yun, saying, "Yu'er greets Grandpa. Grandpa is indeed as Brother Yi said, a great hero with extraordinary bearing!"
Yu'er didn't stand on ceremony at all and addressed Li Ling as "Grandpa," which surprised Yi Yun and Xue Yan.
Although Yi Yun and Xue Yan could both see that Li Ling treated Yu'er differently and guessed that the two had a close relationship, otherwise Li Ling would not have brought her back from so far away.
However, Li Ling still needs to communicate with them first, and Yi Yun will be satisfied before it's too late. It was indeed a bit abrupt for Yu'er to call him "Grandpa" as soon as they met.
Li Ling quickly said, "Grandpa, please don't take offense. Yu'er grew up in the desert and is used to being straightforward. She doesn't mince words when she speaks."
"So it's Miss Yu'er!" Xueyan spoke first. "Brother Yi mentioned you in his letter to me before, saying that you are clever and cute. Now that I see you, it is indeed true."
At this point, Xueyan said to Yiyun, "Grandpa, Miss Yu'er has come from afar. Why don't we arrange for her to stay here first? As for other things, we can discuss them later."
Yi Yun nodded and said to Li Ling, "Well, that's good. Feng'er, you can arrange for Miss Yu'er to stay at our manor for now. After that, you can take her sightseeing and treat her well."
Then he instructed the steward standing to the side, "Steward Zhang, prepare a good meal tonight to welcome Miss Yu'er back."
...
Meanwhile, in an inn, Zhang Qiqiao, whose arm had been severed by Li Ling, was with Qin Sirong.
Qin Sirong had already tended to Zhang Qiqiao's injuries. Feeling his severed arm, Zhang Qiqiao said viciously, "Yi Jifeng, if I don't tear him to pieces, I'm not worthy of being called a human being!"
Qin Sirong said, "Master, I didn't expect that Yi Jifeng actually knew that we killed Zhang Tao, and that I was the one who did it. And the other things he mentioned, it seems that he knows everything about our actions!"
Zhang Qiqiao frowned: "You're right, could it be that someone among us tipped off that kid!"
He also found it very strange. He had been very secretive in his actions, and apart from Qin Sirong and a few others, no one else should have known. How could Li Ling know so much? It made him very suspicious.
However, Zhang Qiqiao was also a cunning man. Although he had suspicions, he did not tell Qin Sirong. Instead, he said, "Sirong, keep this matter to yourself. At the same time, secretly arrange for people to keep a close eye on Mingjian Manor. If they make any unusual moves, report it to me immediately, understand?"
At this point, Zhang Qiqiao added fiercely, "Damn it, if the Four Demons of the Western Regions were still alive, with them as our helpers, we wouldn't be in such a sorry state. Yi Jifeng, hmph..."
Qin Sirong bowed and accepted the order: "I understand, Master. I will arrange for people to monitor Mingjian Manor. The four demons of the Western Regions were inferior in skill and all died under Yi Jifeng's sword, so their deaths are not a pity."
But Yi Jifeng revealed that we killed Zhang Tao, so I'm afraid I won't be able to stay by Zhang Junbao's side anymore!
Zhang Qiqiao, however, did not take it seriously: "You don't need to worry about that. Yi Jifeng doesn't have any evidence either, does he?"
When we get back, we'll say that Yi Jifeng is narrow-minded and vindictive. He was jealous of us when he saw us coming to Mingjian Manor to demand an explanation, so he made up a series of fabricated accusations to frame us.
"I am, after all, Zhang Junbao's third uncle. The man surnamed Yi has no relation to Zhang Junbao. Tell me, does Zhang Junbao trust us, or that brat Yi Jifeng?"
As he spoke, he added, "However, you must be careful in your actions from now on. Don't give anything away and let Zhang Junbao find out, or it will be bad."
Qin Sirong nodded and replied, "Yes, I understand, Master. But should we continue with the matter of dealing with the Famous Sword Manor this time?"
Long before, Zhang Qiqiao had already planned to instigate a conflict between Zhang Junbao and Mingjian Manor, using the influence of the martial arts world to weaken Mingjian Manor. Then, he would lead the martial arts community to take action and seize Mingjian Manor while Li Ling was away.
Unexpectedly, Li Ling returned to Mingjian Manor at this crucial moment. Not only did his plan to incite the martial arts world to fight Mingjian Manor to a standstill come to nothing, but he himself also had his arm severed.
This incident can be described as a failed attempt to steal a chicken and losing the rice instead. At this moment, Zhang Qiqiao hated Li Ling to the core, but he also knew that with his current strength, he probably had no hope of dealing with Li Ling.
So, after a long silence, Zhang Qiqiao clenched his fists reluctantly and said fiercely, "Let that brat surnamed Yi go this time. After a while, when the Carefree King emerges from seclusion, he will come to the Central Plains, and then we'll teach the Famous Sword Manor a lesson!"
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Chapter 199 Breakthrough, Eight Swords Soaring Together (Thanks to 'Yiyun' for the reward, here's an extra chapter for you)