Peaceful Jianghu

Chapter 116

The most interesting case is Hao Jinfeng. During the few days Yan Ruyu spent with him, she was furious to learn that her beloved son, despite his excellent martial arts skills, didn't know how to use light-body techniques (qinggong). She almost fell out with Hao Jiulong. Later, when Hao Jiulong said, "I specially saved it for you to teach," her heart almost melted. Yan Ruyu spent three days teaching Hao Jinfeng the principles of light-body techniques and also instructed Xiao Dao to make sure she taught her older brother them well.

Believe it or not, despite his usual dull-wittedness, Hao Jinfeng is quite a talent for learning kung fu. After a few days, his lightness skill has become quite decent, and he no longer has to be as awkward as a weight.

After traveling for nearly half a month, the group finally arrived at the Beihai Sect.

Xiao Dao calculated the days. It had been almost a year since he left the Beihai Sect and returned. He wondered how that monster Xue Beihai was doing. He would kick him twice as soon as they met.

"Second Young Master, you're back." The servant who opened the door had just struck Zhao Hu when he was kicked away by a delicate embroidered shoe sole that flew towards him.

"oops!"

After the servant fell backward, he covered his face with the shoe print on it, looked up, and his temper instantly disappeared. He smiled obsequiously and said, "Miss Little Knife."

Yan Xiaodao glared at him—this servant was none other than Xue Fu, who had conspired with Xue Beihai to deceive her that day.

Chonghua frowned. "Didn't you say you and your master went missing? How come you're back?"

Xue Fu smiled, "What you all don't know is that..."

"Let me speak."

As they were talking, a man walked out from inside the Beihai Sect. He was dressed in official robes and had a dignified bearing. Everyone recognized him—Wei Xinjie.

"Xue Fu is a brave and loyal servant. He didn't disappear that day; instead, he traveled a long distance to complain to me, saying that several disciples of the Beihai Sect were plotting to harm the sect leader and seize control of the most powerful sect in the world. So I sent people to thoroughly investigate the case. Madam Xue also came to turn herself in, detailing how Xue Xing, Fang Tongli, and their group murdered Sect Leader Xue and framed others." Wei Xinjie cupped his hands to Xue Beifan. "Now that the new head of the Xue family has returned, I can retire successfully. Haha."

Xue Beifan frowned, looked at Xue Fu, and asked, "What about my older brother?"

Xue Fu shook his head. "The sect leader has not returned."

Xue Beifan frowned, not quite trusting Xue Fu. Xiao Dao didn't trust him either; it was obvious that Xue Beihai had conspired with Xue Fu when he escaped. How could he have escaped so badly injured without help?

"Yo!"

Just then, a sweet, boneless laugh came from inside, "Bei Fan is back!"

Xiao Dao shrank his neck, touched his chin, and got goosebumps all over. Did this girl grow up eating fried chicken? How could it be so crispy?

The woman who stepped out was graceful and stunningly beautiful. Xiao Dao recognized her immediately by her curvaceous figure; she was the same Madam Xue who had consorted with Fang Tongli that day, fed Xue Beihai poison, and then turned around and framed Fang Tongli, sending her to prison.

Xue Beifan smiled at her and introduced her to everyone, "This is my sister-in-law, Su Ji."

Xiao Dao almost bit his tongue—it really was salt and pepper chicken!

Su Ji warmly ushered everyone inside. Wei Xinjie stood at the door until Lou Xiaoyue passed by, at which point he couldn't help but ask, "Miss Xiaoyue, I..."

Xiaoyue stopped and looked at him.

Wei Xinjie took out a portrait from his pocket, placed it in front of Xiaoyue, and opened it... The portrait showed an extremely beautiful woman with a graceful figure.

"They look so alike!" Xiao Dao exclaimed after taking a look. "Xiao Yue, you look just like her!"

Xiaoyue stared blankly at the portrait... She felt a surge of emotions she had forgotten for many years welling up inside her. Seeing this person brought a faint warmth, just like the feeling she had when she first saw Yan Ruyu hugging Xiaodao and calling him "baby." Warm, yet bittersweet.

Chonghua suddenly said, "Let's go inside and sit down before we talk?"

"Oh, I was too hasty." Wei Xinjie quickly led the way, and Xiaoyue and Xiaodao walked forward side by side.

Xiao Dao glanced at Chonghua and Shen Xinghai behind him.

Chonghua looked at Xiaoyue, his brows furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with worry. He seemed to sense her faint sadness; could it be that she was thinking of her mother? Shen Xinghai, on the other hand, looked at the scroll in Wei Xinjie's hand, a slight puzzlement in his eyes. Why did this scroll look so new?

Xiao Dao chuckled to himself—it's actually easier to fool a smart person than a fool. To fool a fool, you have to pay attention to details, but to fool a smart person, the best way is to ignore the details! Because they often pay more attention to details than you do.

Xiao Dao had wandered around all the courtyards in the Beihai Sect before and was quite familiar with them, but she had never been to Xue Beifan's room. Only now did she realize that no one seemed to have ever mentioned where Xue Beifan's room was.

Su Ji kindly arranged accommodations for everyone. Xiao Dao took a moment to pull Xue Beifan aside and said to him, "Sigh, your sister-in-law was also involved in harming your brother."

Xue Beifan nodded. "I know."

"So you're just going to ignore it?"

Xue Beifan chuckled, "She didn't kill anyone, did she? If she really had, I'd be willing to acknowledge her as my mother."

Xiao Dao punched him, and Xue Beifan pretended to be hit hard, looking at her pitifully, "Ouch!"

"Oh, right," Xiao Dao asked excitedly, "where's your room?"

Xue Beifan smiled. "What, want to sleep in the same room?"

Xiao Dao squinted.

Xue Beifan quickly waved his hand, "They're in the back."

"The backyard?" Xiao Dao asked curiously.

Xue Beifan smiled and shook his head, "Further later."

Xiao Dao was puzzled, "What's further on?"

"I'll take you there." Xue Beifan, carrying Xiao Dao, headed towards the back mountain of the Beihai Sect.

After passing through a long path, then through a large garden, and finally past the kitchen, the servants' quarters, the storeroom, and the ancestral hall, we finally arrived at a courtyard wall.

Xiao Dao blinked. "That's all."

Xue Beifan opened a small door in the corner of the courtyard wall, took a step forward with Xiao Dao in his hand, and shouted, "Be careful!"

Xiao Dao jumped in surprise, looked down, and good heavens... there was a cliff behind the door.