Luzhou Moon

Chapter 104

"I've heard that Master Haiqiongzi's many disciples are also quite accomplished in martial arts. If we can't find him, we'll have to ask them to come down the mountain to Luzhou." Jiang Shuying said, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly, as if she was considering how to find Master Haiqiongzi.

Seeing that Shao Yang had been depressed since returning to Yinxi Xiaozhu, she guessed that he would not be willing to go through the troubles for Yue Ruzheng anymore. Meanwhile, Lan Baichen's Hengshan disciples had already left Luzhou. Just as she was in a dilemma, Lan Baichen suddenly said, "I think there is someone we should go and visit."

Jiang Shuying raised an eyebrow and asked, "You mean?"

Before Lan Baichen could answer, he heard footsteps and saw Wei Heng walking quickly towards him.

"You've come at just the right time." Lan Baichen smiled, got up and led Wei Heng into the room, telling Wei Heng about what he had just discussed with Jiang Shuying.

Wei Heng pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll first try to find out where Senior Hai Qiongzi is. If I really can't find her, then I'll have to head to Mount Luofu." As he spoke, he took something out of his pocket and handed it to Jiang Shuying, "This is a lingzhi mushroom that I had my servants fetch from the mountain villa. Taking it when she's weak should be somewhat effective."

Jiang Shu had a high opinion of Wei Heng from the photocopy, and was quite comforted by his meticulousness.

Luofu Mountain is located in a remote part of Lingnan, far from Luzhou. Before leaving, Wei Heng went to say goodbye to Yue Ruzheng. He looked relaxed, but Yue Ruzheng was quite uneasy. She thought about how she had never been very friendly to this arrogant young man before, and now she had to rely on him to travel all the way to Lingnan to find a cure.

Seeing her dejected expression, Wei Heng couldn't help but smile and say, "Don't overthink it. I can't stand being alone anyway. I'll take this opportunity to visit that legendary immortal mountain. Maybe I'll even have a chance encounter with the reclusive master Hai Qiongzi and learn some excellent swordsmanship. Why not?"

Yue Ruzheng smiled slightly at his words, but the melancholy between her brows remained. Before leaving, Wei Heng couldn't help but tease her, "Now I finally understand why you can't forget that kid from Seven Star Island—they're both so tragically matched, is this what they call a pair of sworn enemies? But I remember you weren't like this before!"

Yue Ruzheng was stunned, but he had already left the room with a smile. Jiang Shuying instructed the servants to use Ganoderma lucidum as a medicinal guide, along with a calming and stabilizing formula, to give it to Yue Ruzheng. Seeing that she soon fell asleep, she was slightly relieved.

Wei Heng returned to his room to pack his luggage, but suddenly heard an unusual commotion downstairs, including what sounded like a woman's shouting. He grabbed his ancient sword and rushed out of the room; the noise downstairs was already deafening. From the crowd, he heard a woman's clear voice call out, "Where's Yue Ruzheng? Call her out right now! Is she still pretending to be shy?"

Jiang Shuying and Lan Baichen hurried down the stairs and found the once spacious hall completely packed with swordsmen dressed in dark blue outfits. Any other travelers who hesitated were thrown out the door along with their belongings. The woman at the head of the group was dressed in plain clothes with a white flower in her hair, which was supposed to be mourning attire, but it didn't conform to the rules.

The subordinates of Yinxi Xiaozhu and Tingyu Mountain Villa crowded at the stairwell, blocking the group's way. The once peaceful inn suddenly turned into a battlefield, ready to erupt at any moment.

Jiang Shuying, her face flushed with anger, walked to the front of the crowd and said, "My disciple has suffered internal injuries, how can he come downstairs? And who are you, behaving so recklessly here, it's utterly improper!"

The woman in plain clothes pushed aside the person next to her, sat down at the table, leaned against it, and said leisurely, "Since she won't come downstairs, I'll wait here! I want to see who has the patience." She then beckoned to the shopkeeper, who was hiding to the side, and shouted, "Aren't you going to serve me tea?"

The innkeeper hurriedly went to brew tea for the woman himself. Jiang Shuying pursed her lips and glanced around. Seeing everyone's attire, she understood a bit. Suppressing her anger, she said, "If I'm not mistaken, you're from Seven Star Island again?"

"What do you mean 'again'?" The woman tapped the table with her finger, looked up, and said, "Just as I guessed, Lian Junchu is here too? I searched everywhere for him but couldn't find him. I knew that wherever Yue Ruzheng was, he was bound to be there too!"

Lan Baichen had long been dissatisfied with this arrogant woman. He stepped forward and said seriously, "So you're from Seven Star Island. This must be Miss Lian? We don't have the person you're looking for here. Please move aside and let's have some peace and quiet."

Lian Junxin glanced at him sideways and said with displeasure, "Are you also from Yinxi Xiaozhu?"

"Lan Baichen from Yanxia Valley, Hengshan." Lan Baichen grunted and said no more.

Unexpectedly, Lian Junxin ignored him and remained seated at the table, showing no respect whatsoever. Lan Baichen was extremely embarrassed, but out of respect for his seniority, he did not want to get into a fight with this junior.

Jiang Shuying said indignantly, "Miss Lian, I'm telling you again, Lian Junchu is not here. Don't disturb Ruzheng!"

"He's not here?!" Lian Junxin slammed her hand on the table, abruptly standing up and pointing upstairs. "We're about to set off back, but he's vanished! Luckily, I found out that Yue Ruzheng is staying at this inn. He was clearly here a few days ago. Do you think I'm a fool? Is Yue Ruzheng still hung up on Lian Junchu and having a secret rendezvous with him in his room?!"

Wei Heng, standing on the stairs, was already furious at her loud shouting. He immediately leaped over the heads of the crowd and rushed to her. Before she could react, he raised his hand and slapped Lian Junxin hard across the face.

The slap was both accurate and ruthless. Lian Junxin never expected that someone would dare to strike her in public without saying a word. For a moment, she felt stars flashing before her eyes and her face burning with pain.

Wei Heng stood tall and elegant, straightened his clothes, raised his eyebrows and said, "You are a woman, yet you speak so rudely. Are the people of Seven Star Island so ill-mannered?"

Only then did Lian Junxin see the person in front of her clearly. He seemed to be younger than her, yet he had an imposing air and an air of superiority. She covered her face and took a step back, stunned for a moment. Suddenly, she flew into a rage, flicked her sleeves, and two beams of white light shot out from her sleeves, aiming straight for Wei Heng's throat.

Wei Heng drew his ancient sword, unleashing a flurry of swordplay with swift and powerful moves. He firmly held Lian Junxin's twin swords within the interplay of light and shadow, preventing her from breaking through his sword's momentum no matter how she tried to strike or parry.

Neither would yield, and everyone hurriedly retreated. Lian Junxin, unable to maneuver freely in the narrow space, was gradually forced towards the doorway by Wei Heng's fierce attacks. Seeing that she was about to fall out, unwilling to be humiliated, she launched a desperate attack, her twin swords thrusting one after the other towards Wei Heng's eyes in mid-air. Wei Heng flicked his sleeves, his swords trembling slightly, and with a horizontal slash, he deflected her swords. Taking advantage of her distraction, he delivered a flying kick, striking Lian Junxin squarely in the shoulder. Lian Junxin, having lost her footing, was sent flying backwards out the doorway.

She let out a scream in mid-air, about to fall backward onto the street, when a figure flew out from nowhere and caught her from behind, preventing her from falling to the ground.

At this moment, the two groups of people in the inn had arrived at the door. Although Lian Junxin had not fallen, she was furious. When she looked back, the person behind her was also dressed in plain clothes and had his hair tied up with a white cloth. It was Lian Junchu, whom she had not seen for two days.

Desperate to save face, Lian Junxin angrily shouted at him, "Lian Junchu, you've been missing for the past two days! What could possibly be so important that you're disappearing like this?!"

Lian Junchu said patiently, "I have my own plans. We can talk about it when we get back! Why are you making a scene here?"

"Are you afraid of disturbing your sweetheart's rest?" Lian Junxin said indignantly, glaring at everyone at Yinxi Xiaozhu. Her gaze finally fell on Wei Heng, lingered for a moment, and then returned to him.

Wei Heng brandished his ancient sword and shouted, "Lian Junxin, if you dare to spout nonsense here again, watch your tongue!"

Lian Junxin was so angry she trembled with rage. Holding her twin swords tightly, she said, "And who are you, some nobody, daring to act so arrogantly in front of me?!"

Wei Heng glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his pride unwavering: "I am Wei Heng of Tingyu Manor. Do you dare to challenge me again?"

Although Lian Junxin was furious, she hadn't lost her temper. Having just exchanged blows, she knew she was no match for him, so she sneered and said to Lian Junchu, "You still want to linger here? I don't want to exchange another word with these people!"

Lian Junchu didn't look at her, but took a step forward and said to Jiang Shuying, "Senior, you've arrived here too?"

Jiang Shu had always harbored hostility towards Seven Star Island, and he also felt that Ru Zheng had suffered because of his existence. Therefore, he didn't want to look at Lian Junchu at all, and simply nodded indifferently without saying a word.

Lian Junchu seemed unconcerned by her attitude and continued walking forward until he reached the door. The people from Seven Star Island naturally stepped aside, but the subordinates from Yinxi Xiaozhu and Tingyu Villa refused to back down as he approached. Jiang Shuying also stepped forward, stood at the door, and stared directly at him, as if to see what he was up to.

Lian Junchu, dressed in a white cloth robe, looked haggard, but his eyes remained resolute. Seeing Jiang Shuying and the others standing ready, he stopped and smiled wearily, "I'm not here to cause trouble."

Wei Heng stood beside him, intending to ask why he had disappeared for three days, but refrained from interrupting due to the presence of Jiang Shuying, Lan Baichen, and the others. Jiang Shuying said solemnly, "Young Master Lian, we will soon be taking Ruzheng back to Luzhou. Please take the people from Seven Star Island and leave here to avoid delaying things."

Lian Junchu's eyes dimmed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and said, "I won't stop you. However, I have something to tell you: I've found Mo Li's whereabouts."

"Oh?" Jiang Shuying raised her eyebrows, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Where is he now?"

Lian Junchu's expression was somewhat complicated. He turned around and called out behind him. A series of hurried footsteps came from behind the crowd of onlookers gathered not far away. After the onlookers dispersed, Ying Long led the group over in a hurry, and among them, several people were carrying a coffin on their shoulders.

Jiang Shuying and the others looked puzzled, and even Lian Junxin was astonished. The group approached, placed the coffin on the ground, and stepped back to the side.

Yinglong stepped forward, pushed with his palm, and the coffin lid opened, revealing the person lying inside.

The man's face was swollen and his clothes were soaked, but upon closer inspection, his appearance could still be recognized.