Kiyomi Tsuki and His Fox - Chapter 190
"What would I do with White Stone Manor? My goal is Lu Family Fortress. Besides, Old Madam Lu has already become suspicious. Keeping them around will only ruin my plans."
"You were the mastermind behind sending assassins to kill Madam Long, instigating Tang Xing and Jia Li to incite Qingfeng to retaliate against the Old Madam, and attempting to incite internal strife in this fortress, weren't you?"
"That's right. I was the one who ordered the assassination of Madam Long and started this conflict. I was also the one who bribed Tang Xing, Jia Li, and Lu Qingfeng's uncle, and instigated them to incite Lu Qingfeng to take revenge on Old Madam Lu."
Xu Lan was quite cooperative, answering all questions.
"Three years ago, you were the one who instructed Liu Jianhua and his sister to infiltrate this fortress and instigate internal strife. That must have been you."
Kiyomi Tsuki slowly lay down.
"Aren't you afraid at all?" Xu Lan asked back.
"It's too early to say who will emerge victorious. I'm curious, since you successfully instigated internal strife in this castle three years ago, why didn't you take it all at once and instead drag it out until now?"
Kiyomi Tsuki looked peaceful, as if he were about to fall asleep; his voice sounded like a slow, strong heartbeat. To wait for the best opportunity, to await rescue, he had to delay as much as possible, so he needed more patience and perseverance than ever before.
“We cannot afford to be complacent about Lu Ji. His departure from home doesn't mean he's no longer a threat. If our sect rashly attacks Lu Family Fortress, we might force Lu Ji back. If he uses his connections with the White-Clad Holy Sect to win over Tianlong Fortress and Fengyue Manor, then it won't be Lu Family Fortress that's doomed, but our sect. Since everything is under our control, why rush things? Therefore, we plan to use a piecemeal approach, slowly devouring Lu Family Fortress bit by bit. This will be more beneficial for our sect to subdue it.” Xu Lan smiled coldly, “But…”
"But what?"
"I underestimated Lu Qingcheng, and I underestimated Old Madam Lu even more. I also underestimated Lu Ji. Even though he is far away in Yunnan, he still has everything under his control. Of course, his most powerful move is you. Young Master Jian Yue's background and the huge and powerful supporters surrounding him make our sect feel like it has a thorn in its side at all times. It can be said that you are our sect's most lethal weapon."
"Who in this world is more cunning than Old Master Lu? He only sent me out, and you were all terrified and ran away in a panic."
Kiyotsuki burst into laughter, but the laughter vanished in an instant. Like a leopard lurking in the grass, Kiyotsuki finally found his moment. He leaped up suddenly, the blanket seemingly coming alive as it was thrown back to cover Xu Lan. He gripped the Star Moon Sword tightly with both hands and slashed out with all his might at top speed. However, he never dreamed that no matter how fast he was, Xu Lan was always one step ahead. In fact, he didn't even see how Xu Lan made his move. Just as the Star Moon Sword missed its mark, a sharp sword was pressed against his throat.
Am I ultimately destined to not escape this fate?
Kiyomi Tsuki was filled with despair and resentment.
At that moment, the carved door slowly opened, and Lu Qingcheng walked in gracefully, holding a lamp in one hand and a knife in the other. A glimmer of hope ignited in Qing Jianyue's eyes, but it quickly faded. Really, she's only just arrived; it's too late now.
"Let him go."
Kiyoshi Tsuki wanted to roll her eyes when she heard this. How could that be? He came to kill me. Now that you've appeared, he's even less likely to let me go.
Xu Lan scoffed, "Lord Lu, you're quite quick, aren't you?"
"I have to admit, I underestimated you." Lu Qingcheng said calmly, "I fell for your trick of luring the tiger away from the mountain. Li Zhen is already dead."
Kiyoshi's heart pounded wildly. "Oh God, I'm going to die. You killed Li Zhen, fine, but why did you have to say it out loud and provoke him?"
“If you’re a true hero, accept my challenge.” Lu Qingcheng said calmly and confidently. “If you can beat me, I’ll let you go, and of course, Miss Xu too.”
Lu Qingcheng stepped aside, and Xu Yun, pale as a ghost, was pushed in. A flash of light, and Lu Qingcheng held the knife to Xu Yun's slender neck. Xu Yun looked as if she was about to faint.
Qing Jianyue thought to herself: Ha, Xu Lan kidnapped me, and you kidnapped Xu Yun. We're really two of a kind.
Xu Lan laughed, "Lord Lu, don't you think it's too childish of you to threaten me with this woman? Who do you take me for?"
“Li Tieying has three sons: Li Hong, Li Ying, and Li Lin. During the last battle between your sect and our fortress, Li Lin was captured alive by Brother Yongxiang, but was later ransomed by your sect.” Lu Qingcheng smiled slightly. “But in the meantime, something happened. Because Li Lin was afraid of death, he revealed his true identity. He was just a double for Li Lin. The real Li Lin has been lying low in our fortress for three years.”
Kiyomi Tsuki blinked hard.
"According to the investigation by the Grand Enforcer, four years ago, Xu Lan was ordered to assassinate Madam Long. After the assassination failed, he died on the run. Unfortunately, you found his body. Xu Lan's physique, age, and temperament are extremely similar to yours, which gave you the opportunity to impersonate him. So, your current face is probably not your original one, right?" Lu Qingcheng said sarcastically, "Li Lin."
Kiyomi Tsuki was so shocked that her mouth dropped open.
Li Lin smiled, but even in his smile, it remained cold and cruel, possessing a deadly masculine charm. "Since Lord Lu knows it's me, he shouldn't have done it."
“Precisely because you are not siblings, precisely because you are a man and a woman who are both strangers and acquaintances,” Lu Qingcheng replied subtly.
Li Lin raised an eyebrow, his eyes flashing with a cold, arrow-like light.
Kiyoshi Tsuki thought to herself: What exactly is Qingcheng talking about?
"Your love for Miss Xu is no less than my love for Jian Yue, is it?"
Upon hearing Lu Qingcheng's words, Qing Jianyue's mind went blank. He quickly looked at Xu Yun, whose slender body trembled violently, her expression extremely strange, beyond description.
The room fell silent for a moment, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Qingjian Yue thought to herself: Damn it, so Qingcheng knew everything, but kept it from me. Li Lin, Li Tieying's third son. Hmph, no wonder she investigated my background so thoroughly.
Li Lin let out a cold laugh, "If I release your beloved, how can you guarantee the safety of me and Yun'er?"
Lu Qingcheng said, "If Jianyue returns safely to my arms, I can naturally guarantee Miss Xu's safety. As for you, I can give you a chance. As long as you can defeat me, I will let you and Miss Xu leave this castle."
“That sounds fair,” Li Lin said.
A spark of hope ignited in Qingjian Yue's heart, and Xu Yun's face also shone with light. However, they both had some doubts: would the other party really let them go?
Chapter Seventy: A Play
Kiyoshi Tsuki simply couldn't believe it. He felt like he was in a nightmare. Even after Li Lin sheathed his sword and the danger was over, he still couldn't believe it. It wasn't until Li Lin left with Xu Yun in his arms, and then Lu Qingcheng came over, took the Star Moon Sword from his hand, pulled him off the bed, brought him clothes and shoes to help him get dressed, and then embraced him in her warm and broad chest, that he woke up as if from a dream and pushed her away.
"What kind of show is this? You'd better explain it to me clearly." Kiyomi Tsuki was very angry. Because of his anger, his pair of bright black crystal eyes seemed to be burning with two flames, making his face seem to glow, even more beautiful and dazzling.
Lu Qingcheng looked at him gently and said calmly, "I will explain, after I finish dealing with things outside."
Kiyomi Tsuki calmed down, but his face was still full of anger, and the flames in his eyes seemed to be frozen by ice, flashing a cold light.
Lu Qingcheng reached out to hug him, but he quickly moved aside, leaving Lu Qingcheng with a helpless sigh. Qing Jianyue snorted; he had no intention of forgiving him. He grabbed the Star Moon Sword with one hand, scooped up the drunken little fox with the other, and turned to walk out the door. Lu Qingcheng followed him, trying several times to wrap her arms around his waist, but he ruthlessly pushed her away with his elbow each time.
The garden was brightly lit and filled with people. As the two emerged, Qingfeng, Cai Zhonghe, Cai Bo'an, Lin Feng, and Lei Yongxiang immediately greeted them. Qing Jianyue looked around. A group of Lu Family Fort warriors, led by Liu Xicheng, He Zhiqiang, and Du Fangwei, were monitoring the traitors kneeling on the ground. There was also a stretcher covered with a white cloth. It seemed Lu Qingcheng hadn't lied; the person under the white cloth must be Li Zhen. Looking at Li Lin, surrounded by powerful enemies, he held Xu Yun with one arm and stroked his sword with the other, still as composed and aloof as ever. Coupled with his icy and handsome appearance, he appeared even more extraordinary.