Compendio de hombres apuestos en el mundo de las artes marciales

Capítulo 54

Xiao Changqing tapped his chin with his finger, pondered for a while, his dark eyes darting around several times, and then looked at Duan Chen: "Little Duan, if I can give you the answer, is there any reward?"

Duan Chen was slightly taken aback, then pursed his lips and said softly, "I don't think I have anything to give Senior Xiao as a reward."

A glint flashed in Xiao Changqing's eyes, and he smiled and shook his index finger: "Whether it's true or not isn't up to you. As long as you promise me one thing, Xiao Duan, I guarantee you a satisfactory answer to the mystery of the severed hair. How about it?"

Zhao Ting stared coldly at Xiao Changqing, about to lash out, when Duan Chen replied, "Fine."

Xiao Changqing's expression was like a cat that had stolen cream, and he chuckled. Amidst the discontent and helplessness of the crowd, the steward, Uncle Xiang, rushed in, breathless, his voice filled with panic: "Young...Young Master, that Seven Victories Blade..."

Everyone turned their gaze to Uncle Xiang, and Liu Yichen frowned and asked, "What happened to the knife?"

Uncle Xiang finally caught his breath and slapped his thigh, shouting, "The knife is gone!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed, and they all turned their gazes to Mr. Xiao. The latter frowned, his expression unusually stern. Seeing everyone looking at him, Xiao Changqing rolled his eyes and spread his hands: "Don't ask me, I don't know either."

Zhou Yufei smiled knowingly: "Didn't you just say you'd definitely give Duan Chen a satisfactory answer? What, you're going back on your word in the blink of an eye?"

Xiao Changqing glared at Zhou Yufei, his eyes wide with fury: "What do you know! If the Seven Victories Blade were here, I would definitely keep my word. But now that the blade is gone, it means that there might still be their people in Wanliu Manor, do you understand?!"

"Them?" Zhan Yun frowned slightly. "Mr. Xiao means..."

Xiao Changqing sighed, then glanced at Zuo Xin and Liu Yichen: "You juniors haven't heard of it? Have you also forgotten about the Seven Life Sect?"

The remaining people at the table exchanged bewildered glances. Zuo Xin and Liu Yichen, however, both wore somber expressions. Liu Yichen frowned and slowly shook his head: "Impossible. Wasn't it said that in that battle thirty years ago, everyone from the Seven Life Sect perished in the flames, with no survivors? And their sect leader himself started the fire..."

Xiao Changqing raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "But according to what they said, cutting off the victim's hair and wrapping it around the weapon after killing them was a typical practice of the Seven Life Sect back then. Perhaps, the fire back then did not kill all the sect members, and thirty years later, the Seven Life Sect has been resurrected. Or perhaps, someone deliberately imitated it and created some other sect again, who knows?"

"What's certain is that this matter has some connection to the Seven Life Sect from back then," Zuo Xin said slowly, frowning. Judging from the expressions of the three, they all seemed extremely unwilling to believe it, yet had no choice but to accept this fact.

The young people were completely confused. Xiao Yiyi raised an eyebrow and asked, "I've heard a little about this. It's something like a cult that feeds on human blood?"

Xiao Changqing nodded: "That's right. It is said that the Seven Streams Sect Leader is as beautiful as a fairy and can stay young forever. She always looks like a young girl, and no one knows her real age. Her followers are also skilled in preserving their youth and never age."

Xiao Changqing's voice gradually slowed, but the content of his words gradually took on a sinister and chilling tone, "I've heard that their method of preserving youth is to exchange blood for blood, to nourish life with blood. Every person who is captured and killed, when finally discovered, has had all their blood drained, and a lock of their hair is cut off. A weapon is left at the scene, sometimes a knife, sometimes something else, and for every person who dies, a few strands of hair will be wrapped around that weapon..."

For a moment, the room fell silent. Liu Mandie couldn't help but move closer to Liu Yichen, her pretty face slightly pale and her voice trembling: "Don't say it, it's creepy."

"Is that all?" Duan Chen frowned slightly.

Zhan Yun and the other two also looked at Xiao Changqing, seemingly waiting for him to continue. Xiao Changqing's eyes darted around, and he smiled in an exceptionally kind and endearing way: "Little Duan, you've already promised me. As long as you agree to let me follow along, I'll finish the second half of the story."

"You're letting me go with you?" Duan Chen asked, somewhat puzzled.

Xiao Changqing nodded emphatically, looking completely matter-of-fact: "That's right! As long as you let me help you solve cases, I'll tell you everything I know about the 'Seven Sheng Cult'." Seemingly feeling that this temptation wasn't big enough, Xiao Changqing quickly added: "And I'll also teach you all my disguise skills!" As he spoke, he even winked playfully.

Hearing this, Zhao Ting was furious! This man was utterly shameless! The "Seven Life Sect" was such a trivial matter; a few older martial artists could easily find out. Why was he using it to blackmail Duan Chen into doing this and that? How old was he, still bullying a younger generation like this? Now he seemed to want to follow Duan Chen all the way to his house!

However, what Zhao Ting didn't know was that no one knew more about the affairs of the martial arts world in recent decades than the handsome and eccentric Mr. Xiao before him. The Xiao family of Muzhou in Liangzhe Road, Jiangnan, possessed a collection of over ten thousand books. However, these books recorded neither classics nor anecdotes, but rather the events of the martial arts world over the past century. No one in the world knew better than the Xiao family which family was skilled in which weapons and which techniques, which sects and factions emerged, when they appeared, who created them, how many generations they existed, and when they disappeared.

Zhan Yun frowned slightly and glanced at Duan Chen. The latter replied calmly, expressionless, "Senior Xiao's disguise skills are profound and exquisite, a peerless art in this world. However, my ambitions lie elsewhere, and I fear I will disappoint your good intentions." Xiao Changqing pouted, about to argue, when Duan Chen continued, "Senior wishes to assist me in solving cases, that's fine. However, since you're only telling me one story, you can only assist in solving one case. Is that acceptable?"

Xiao Changqing nodded repeatedly, his mouth agape with a wide smile: "Sure, sure, of course." Zuo Xin, standing to the side, frowned and stared for a long time. Master Xiao pretended not to notice, only smiling as he looked at Xiao Duan, thinking to himself, "If one story leads to another case, I can keep going until the day there are no more cases to solve in the world. I still have countless stories left in my belly!"

After lunch, Duan Chen, carrying his bundle, followed Xiao Yiyi and the others to take their leave. Xiao Changqing, however, jumped into the carriage first. Lifting the curtain, he saw Zuo Xin standing somewhat helplessly by the carriage, whispering instructions. Xiao Changqing, in a good mood because his wish had been fulfilled, listened attentively, but his dark eyes darted around, watching Duan Chen and Zhao Ting intently.

Seeing this person's carefree attitude, Zuo Xin couldn't help but feel annoyed: "What are you looking at?"

Xiao Changqing watched for a while longer, then smiled and looked back: "Tell me, which of those two boys will ultimately win the heart of the beauty?"

Chapter Twenty-Four: Rumors and Gossip...

Zuo Xin was taken aback, then shook his head and sighed: "You..."

Duan Chen cupped his hands to the crowd and said, "Until we meet again." Then he turned to get into the carriage, but heard Xiao Yiyi's melodious voice with a smile behind him: "We live on Mulian Mountain at the west end of Qingxi Town on the outskirts of Suzhou. If you have some free time in the future, you are welcome to come and find me. I will treat you to the lotus wine brewed by my disciple."

After saying that, Liu Yichen's face was flushed and his eyes were slightly moist. Zhao Ting's eyes flashed and his thin lips curved slightly. Zhan Yun bowed deeply to Xiao Yiyi. Duan Chen paused and his heart sank. He lifted the curtain and got into the car.

Xiao Yiyi stroked a strand of hair by her cheek and smiled brightly, nodding to the group: "Let's go."

Inside the car, Mr. Xiao waved to Zuo Xin, lowered the curtain covering the window, and turned to see the beautiful woman with slightly furrowed brows and an unhappy expression. He called out "Xiao Duan" in a somewhat ingratiating tone, then winked at Xiao Yiyi, who was bending down to get into the car—Sister Yiyi is indeed amazing!

Xiao Yiyi smiled, that was natural.

The author has something to say: This chapter fills in the gaps in the case and completes the information that was previously unclear.

On the other hand, as everyone should have noticed, this is setting the stage for what's to come.

Thank you for your support, and I hope you enjoy it.

I have limited energy and cannot reply to everyone's messages individually, please understand.

54

Chapter One: Meeting an Old Friend and Reminiscing...

Mulian Mountain in Qingxi Town.

The man, dressed in a snow-white brocade robe, held a jade-shaped folding fan in one hand and a small wooden box in the other, with a gray-blue bundle slung over his shoulder on the same side. He was craning his neck to look up at the mountain.

As dusk approached, the last rays of the setting sun shone through the verdant pines and cypresses, casting a soft glow on the person's profile, making the gentle smile on their lips appear even warmer.

Half an hour ago, Zhan Yun led his horse into the town and then inquired his way towards Mulian Mountain. He left the horse at a farmhouse not far from the mountain and left some copper coins as money for feeding the horse. Then, Zhan Yun picked up his bundle and the wooden box and headed up the mountain.

Mount Mulian didn't look very high. Zhan Yun walked up the mountain path, and it got dark in no time. By the time he reached the house with smoke rising from it that he had seen earlier, a full hour had passed.

As Zhan Yun approached the gate, he could faintly hear children's laughter and a woman's scolding voice with a hint of amusement coming from the courtyard. Zhan Yun's brow relaxed; the voice sounded so familiar. It seemed he had found the right place! Just then, a person emerged from the shadows in front of him. He was dressed in a blue robe, walked with composure, and had his black hair neatly tied up.