Great Hero

Grandmother Wen suddenly sighed and said, "Of all the Hua family descendants, only you are good at lying. Now we have to rely on your lying skills.
" Hua Yunlong blushed and stammered, "After this matter is settled, I will never lie again."
Grandmother Wen nodded and said, "When you go into the world, you must fend for yourself. If you encounter any trouble, we will not be able to save you."
Hua Yunlong said, "I understand. I know how to take care of myself."
Suddenly, footsteps were heard, and Hua Xi's voice came from outside the house, saying, "Reporting to Grandmother, I request an audience."
Grandmother Wen raised her voice and said, "What is it?"
Hua Xi stood outside the door and bowed, saying, "I heard from Fifth Sister that Second Brother has gone on a long journey, and I..."
Grandmother Wen said coldly, "This is none of your business. Get out!" Hua
Xi paused slightly, then nervously replied, "Yes," and turned to leave.
Grandmother Wen lowered her head in thought for a moment, then looked up at Hua Yunlong and said, "Think carefully. Do you still have any questions? If not, then set off."
Hua Yunlong replied without hesitation, "Grandson only has one thing I can't figure out."
Grandmother Wen asked, "What?"
Hua Yunlong said, "I wonder if Uncle Sima and that Lady Yuding have some other grudge?"
Grandmother Wen shook her head and said, "No grudge at all. Strictly speaking, your Uncle Sima has also done Lady Yuding a favor."
Hua Yunlong said, "Grandson wants to see Aunt Qiong and ask her in detail about that day..."
Grandmother Wen interrupted, "No need. You already know everything she knows."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "This matter is full of hidden meanings and ambiguities. Since Grandmother is unwilling to explain in detail, then I can only go outside and inquire."
He quickly changed his mind, bowed, and said, "If Grandmother has no further instructions, I will take my leave now." Grandmother
Wen said, "A man's ambition lies in all directions. A trip through the martial world is nothing to worry about. Take care of yourself!"
Hua Yunlong readily agreed and bowed deeply.
Grandmother Wen nodded slightly, then turned to Hua Tianhong and said, "See him out of the valley. There's no need to linger." Hua Tianhong
hurriedly rose from his seat. At this moment, the two ladies approached together. The second lady, with tears in her eyes, tied her son's sword securely. The first lady, Qin, gave him three jade bottles, which Hua Yunlong hid in his bosom. He quickly bid farewell to his two mothers and followed closely behind his father out of the manor.
Under the corridor, the old steward, Zong Liao, led a magnificent steed with a fiery red coat. Hua Xi, Hua Wei, and their three siblings waited beside him, along with a plump and beautiful maid.
Hua Tianhong walked straight out of the manor, and everyone silently followed behind.
The beautiful maid, named Bai Yu, was the personal maid of the second lady, Bai Junyi. She caught up with Hua Yunlong, quietly handed him an exquisite folding fan, and whispered, "There is a string of pearls in the saddlebag, worth about three thousand taels of gold. Please take care of your food and lodgings, young master." Hua
Yunlong glanced at his father, who was walking ahead, and gestured for Bai Yu to keep her voice down.
A moment later, they arrived at the manor gate. Hua Tianhong, preoccupied, looked at Hua Yunlong's noble attire and nonchalant expression, and a wave of worry washed over him. He waved his hand and said, "Mount up, you can go now! I won't see you off."
Hua Yunlong had expected his father to reprimand him, but his father was surprisingly agreeable. Relieved, he quickly bowed to his father to take his leave, mounted his horse, and galloped out of the valley.
Several days passed quickly. That evening, outside the north gate of Nanyang Prefecture, the second young master of the Hua family from Yunzhong Mountain arrived.
Hua Yunlong was travel-worn, but his handsome appearance was undeniable. He rode a fine horse, wore a light fur coat, carried a sword and a fan, and still maintained his noble bearing, showing no signs of fatigue.
The lanterns were just coming on, and the night market was just beginning. Hua Yunlong slowly reined in his horse … He continued straight into the city.
The streets were bustling with pedestrians. The red horse, like its master, strode confidently, its bells jingling, displaying an air of arrogance.
Soon, the red horse stopped in front of the "Gaosheng Pavilion" inn. A group of waiters rushed forward, ushering Hua Yunlong inside.
"Gaosheng Pavilion" was the premier inn in Nanyang City. After Hua Yunlong selected a room and washed up, the food and drink were brought. The waiter bowed and was about to leave when Hua Yunlong beckoned, saying, "Wait a minute, waiter, I have something to ask you."
The waiter stepped forward, smiling obsequiously, "What does the young master wish to ask?"
Hua Yunlong picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and said, "I want to ask you about someone." The waiter, all smiles, asked,
"Whom does the young master want to ask?"
Hua Yunlong said, "This man is very famous. His surname is Sima, and his given name is Chang..." The
shop assistant's face changed, and he stammered, "Young master..."
Hua Yunlong's face darkened, and he suddenly shouted, "Simply put, where is Master Sima's residence?"
The shop assistant was slightly taken aback, and then whispered, "East Street, go out and turn right, it's the third street, in front of the mansion..."
Hua Yunlong raised his left hand and interrupted, "Enough!"
Then he took out a piece of silver and handed it to the shop assistant, saying, "This is a reward for you."
The shop assistant took the silver, overjoyed, and thanked him profusely before leaving. Hua
Yunlong poured himself a drink, secretly calculating in his mind: The news of Uncle Sima's sudden death has spread throughout the martial world; in Nanyang City, it's likely a major event, but rumors abound, and no one knows the real culprit. Finding the murderer will probably be a difficult task…
At the second watch of the night, the sound of the night watchman's gong rang out. Hua Yunlong sheathed his sword, closed the door, and quietly climbed onto the roof, heading straight for East Street.
In no time, he found Sima Changqing's residence and gracefully landed inside.
The dark, silent courtyard gave off a desolate and eerie feeling.
Hua Yunlong circled around the back courtyard, finding it uninhabited, before returning to the front yard. He pushed… The courtyard gate opened easily.
Stepping inside, a pungent smell of paint and lime assaulted his nostrils in the darkness.
He seemed to smell death, a chill running down his spine, his hair standing on end. He quickly fetched a lighter and lit it.
In the light, he saw a plain white curtain, behind which were two coffins. In front of the curtain was a spirit table, with the ancestral tablets of Sima Changqing and his wife placed in the center, next to an oil lamp. Upon closer inspection, he realized the lamp oil had burned out, leaving only two heaps of candle wax.
Hua Yunlong frowned repeatedly, glancing around. He noticed some unburned gold and silver ingots, and immediately lit a pile of them to use as a lamp.
Sima Changqing, known as the "Nine-Lives Swordsman," had been famous since his youth and was the sworn brother of Hua Yunlong's grandfather.
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "Now that I'm here, I should offer my respects." "
He immediately knelt down before the coffin and bowed several times. He intended to offer a few prayers, but seeing that the paper ingots in the basin had burned out and the flames were about to go out, he hurriedly added more paper ingots, forgetting all about the prayers.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and the door was blown open by the wind. A chilling gust of wind rushed into the room, scattering the burning paper ingots in all directions, and the flames went out in a flash."
Hua Yunlong was startled, a chill running through him. But as the ashes scattered and the flames died down, he seemed to see the shadow of a woman behind the mourning curtain.
At that moment, Hua Yunlong calmed himself, wiped the cold sweat from his palms, and asked in a low voice, "Who is behind the mourning curtain?"
After a moment of silence, a mournful voice sounded from behind the curtain, saying, "This humble servant is You Shi. What is your honorable name, young master?"
Hua Yunlong frowned and said, "I am Hua Yang, from Luoxia Manor."
You Shi said softly, "So it is the second young master."
The firelight flashed and then blazed back to life. From behind the white curtain emerged a woman dressed in mourning, her face filled with sorrow.
The woman was in the prime of her life, very beautiful. Now, dressed in mourning clothes, with a white ribbon tied around her forehead, she appeared even more radiant and captivating.
Hua Yunlong stood before the mourning table, glancing up to see that Madam You held a lamp in her right hand and cradled what appeared to be an infant in her left. A thought struck him: "Madam You is dressed in mourning; she must be a relative of Uncle Sima. But whose child is this?"
As he pondered this, Madam You placed the oil lamp on the table and slowly turned around.
Hua Yunlong's gaze fell upon what she was holding, and his heart skipped a beat.
It wasn't an infant she was holding, but a black cat.
The cat's fur was jet black and glossy; in the dim light, its bright, intelligent eyes shone with a chilling light.
Madam You curtsied and slowly said, "Second Young Master, have you come here on orders?"
Hua Yunlong quickly composed himself and returned the greeting, saying, "I have come on my father's orders to pay my respects to Uncle Sima."
Madam You asked, "Has my young lady already arrived at the manor?"
Hua Yunlong nodded and asked, "May I ask how you address Uncle Sima, Madam?"
Madam You lowered her eyes and looked down at the ground, saying, "This humble servant is the old master's concubine."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself: Uncle Sima has no children yet, so it is only natural for him to take a concubine in hopes of having a son.
He immediately bowed deeply again, saying, "So it's Second Madam. Please forgive my rudeness."
Madam You stepped aside, saying, "This humble servant dares not accept such a grand gesture."
Hua Yunlong's mind raced, and he asked, "Is Second Madam the only one left in the manor?"
Madam You sighed softly, saying, "On the day you left home, Miss, you dismissed all the servants. This humble servant, grateful for the old master's kindness, has stayed here alone to keep vigil."
Hua Yunlong was filled with respect, saying, "Second Madam is so kind and righteous; this junior admires you immensely."
Madam You sighed again, seemingly wanting to humble herself... After a few polite words, he suddenly lowered his head and pondered for a long while before saying, "Second Young Master, besides paying respects to my family, is there anything else you wish to do at my humble abode?"
Hua Yunlong replied, "I have come to Nanyang on my father's orders, firstly to pay respects at the spirit tablet, and secondly to investigate the murderer."
Madam You frowned slightly and said, "Isn't Master Hua going down the mountain himself?"
Hua Yunlong said, "My father has entrusted me with the task of investigating the murderer."
Upon hearing this, a strange expression flashed across Madam You's face, but it disappeared in an instant, replaced by a sorrowful and desolate look.
Hua Yunlong thought to himself: She sees my youth and assumes my abilities are limited, unfit for such a heavy responsibility.
In a flash, he noticed the black cat in Madam You's arms, its eyes gleaming with golden light, staring at him with hostility. He couldn't help but laugh out loud, saying, "Madam loves cats?"
Madam You replied, "My family is destroyed, and I am all alone. This black cat is my only companion."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself: So the black cat has a name too. How interesting.
But then he heard Madam You say, "My master is a renowned martial artist. Although his skills are not as good as your father's, he is still considered a first-rate master. Anyone who could harm my master is no ordinary person. It's a bit much that Master Hua refuses to come out of seclusion and only sends his second son to investigate the case..."
She seemed unwilling to say more, and before she could finish, she suddenly sighed and stopped.
Hua Yunlong smiled slightly and said, "Madam, rest assured, though I am not talented, I am confident that I can avenge you with all my might."
Madam You sighed and said, "Since you are so confident, Second Young Master, I have nothing more to say."
Hua Yunlong said, "I hope you
will enlighten me, Madam." Madam You coldly said, "My lady has surely already explained what I know."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself: It seems that Madam You has suffered a great misfortune and her temperament has become quite extreme.
While thinking this, he said aloud, "I heard that Uncle Sima met a tragic end, with a wound on his throat..."
Madam You interjected, "The old lady suffered the same fate."
Hua Yunlong said, "The coffin has not yet been sealed, and I would like to see the condition of the wound."
Madam You said indifferently, "The old master's coffin is on the left, and the madam's is on the right."
As she spoke, she picked up the oil lamp on the table and moved towards the coffin.
Hua Yunlong reached the left side of the coffin, grasped the lid with both hands, and prepared to open it.
Standing to Hua Yunlong's right, Madam You held the baby "Hei'er" in her left arm and held up an oil lamp in her right.
Just as Hua Yunlong was about to lift the coffin lid, he suddenly caught a faint scent of powder.
It was a top-grade palace powder, extremely rare and difficult for ordinary people to obtain, even with money. Hua Yunlong, born into a wealthy family and known for his romantic nature since childhood, was naturally very knowledgeable about women's cosmetics.
He paused slightly, sniffed, and realized the fragrance was coming from Madam You. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, thinking: No wonder Madam You could win over Uncle Sima; she truly has something special about her. Suddenly, he
heard Madam You say, "Second Young Master, why are you hesitating?"
Hua Yunlong smiled, exerted force with both hands, and was about to lift the coffin lid when suddenly, a thought struck him: Something's not right! If Madam You is observing mourning for her husband, why is she still using cosmetics? Uncle Sima has been dead for over ten days; the remaining cosmetics on his body shouldn't be this strong.
Thinking back, he couldn't help but think: Hmm! This is completely wrong. A woman who has just lost her husband and is overwhelmed with grief, holding a black cat in her arms—what kind of behavior is this?
He was originally a clever and mischievous young man, and he hadn't suspected anything before, so he didn't think anything of it. But now that his suspicions were aroused, he immediately felt that there were many flaws, everything was suspicious, and it was very contrary to common sense.
But then he heard Madam You sigh and say, "The old master's death was extremely tragic. It's better if the second young master doesn't see it!"
Hua Yunlong responded, "Exactly! Exactly!"
Suddenly, he changed the subject and said, "There should be an ever-burning lamp in the mourning hall."
Madam You was taken aback at first, and then sighed softly, saying, "This lowly concubine has suffered such a great change, and I am completely disoriented. I have forgotten everything."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself: You shouldn't forget your tears. I didn't see any of your tears! He suddenly shouted loudly, "Madam, be careful! I'm opening the coffin!"
With both hands, he forcefully lifted the coffin lid.
As soon as the coffin lid was opened, a strong smell of lime filled the air, mixed with a faint floral fragrance.
Hua Yunlong's sense of smell was exceptional; the moment his nose touched the mixed scent, he immediately recognized it and exclaimed, "Wow! It smells so good! It smells so good!"
He wrinkled his nose and sniffed several times.
Madam You was stunned for a moment, wondering why the poisonous gas emanating from the coffin hadn't affected this spoiled brat. She was horrified; her right hand lashed out, smashing the oil lamp towards Hua Yunlong's face, while her left leg shot towards his waist.
Hua Yunlong laughed heartily, his right hand sweeping out, grabbing Madam You's arm and shoving her against the coffin.
After the coffin lid was opened, Madam You, who had been holding her breath, suddenly felt a sharp pain in her arm. Startled and panicked, she cried out, a blast of poisonous gas filling her nostrils, and she instantly lost consciousness
. This all happened in an instant; Hua Yunlong could easily handle Madam You
. But suddenly, a gust of wind appeared out of nowhere, striking from behind.
Hua Yunlong was startled; without a second thought, he leaped away like lightning.
With a "whoosh," a piece of Hua Yunlong's clothing was torn from his back.
At this moment, the mourning hall was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
Before Hua Yunlong could even regain his footing, the gust of wind had already followed him. Hua Yunlong quickly dodged to the side, avoiding the sneak attack.
Born into a martial arts family, he possessed a unique skill in dodging and yielding.
At this moment, he recognized the attacker as "Hei'er," the cat held in Madam You's arms.
He was both amused and annoyed. Seeing the two bright yellow lights rushing towards him again, he quickly shifted his body slightly and kicked out.
The black cat was originally a exotic breed from the Western Regions, well-trained and skilled in pouncing. Hua Yunlong's kick missed, and the black cat pounced and spun around, attacking Hua Yunlong's right leg instead.
Hua Yunlong laughed and said, "You little beast, I'll capture you alive today!"
His childlike spirit was awakened. He bent his knees and squatted down, his left hand touching the torn clothes on his back, while his right hand moved with lightning speed, grabbing straight for the black cat's neck.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle rang out from behind the mourning curtain.
The whistle was very short, and the black creature, hearing it, immediately spun low and darted behind the curtain.
Hua Yunlong shouted, "Where do you think you're going!" and lunged forward, grabbing the black creature's tail. Unexpectedly, the creature twisted its body and bit down, startling Hua Yunlong, who cried out and recoiled.
A series of hurried footsteps were heard, followed by immediate silence.
Hua Yunlong pounced like lightning, discovering a small door behind the curtain, leading to a passageway. He chased after it through the passageway, but the enemy had vanished.
The black creature was also nowhere to be seen.
Hua Yunlong paused, looking around, but saw nothing. Suddenly, he remembered the woman who called herself "You Shi" was still unconscious in the mourning hall. He rushed back, lit a tinderbox, and looked around. There was no trace of "You Shi"; clearly, in the blink of an eye, she had been rescued by her companions.
The coffin lid had already been opened, releasing a strong, nauseating smell of lime mixed with the faint fragrance of osmanthus.
Hua Yunlong held his breath and looked into the coffin at the corpse inside. Sima Changqing's body, disguised, showed no suspicious signs.
Hua Yunlong reached out and lifted the collar, revealing a hole the size of a wine glass in the throat. The teeth marks in the hole were clearly visible, as fresh as if they had been bitten through by an animal, causing death.
Suddenly, with a "whoosh," a figure darted out from under the altar, as swift as an arrow, heading straight for the door.
Hua Yunlong burst into laughter, saying, "Haha! You have quite the nerve, you underestimate your second master!"
Without bothering to close the coffin lid, he leaped forward, chasing after the figure like a shadow out of the hall.
Under the starlight, a slender, graceful figure appeared, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, a short sword tucked at her waist. It was a beautiful young woman of about sixteen.
Hua Yunlong patted her on the shoulder and said, "Hey! Stop right there!"
The girl in black stumbled, nearly falling several steps before managing to steady herself against the courtyard wall.
Suddenly, she took out a handkerchief, covered her mouth, and coughed repeatedly, tears streaming down her face.
It turned out she had been holding her breath, hiding under the altar, which was covered by a tablecloth and difficult to spot. However, due to holding her breath for too long, the poisonous fumes emanating from the coffin had seeped into her eyes, forcing her to emerge.
Hua Yunlong's eyes gleamed as he looked the girl up and down, thinking to himself: This girl has a delicate face and a slender waist, graceful and elegant—a real beauty in the making.
He thought to himself, then chuckled, "Second Master didn't hurt you! Why are you crying?"
A blush crept onto the black-clad girl's face. Suddenly, she drew her short sword and said in a low voice, "Miss, this has nothing to do with the Sima family's murder case. Let's keep to ourselves. Let me go."
Hua Yunlong laughed loudly, "If it has nothing to do with the murder case, what are you doing hiding in the mourning hall?"
The black-clad girl gave a cold snort, her delicate body swaying as she darted towards the gate.
Hua Yunlong laughed heartily, "Why rush to leave before we've made things clear?"
He flashed, blocking the girl's path.
The black-clad girl seemed to have anticipated his move. She brandished her short sword and suddenly thrust it forward, simultaneously stomping her feet and leaping backward, her delicate body crashing against the courtyard wall.
Amidst his laughter, Hua Yunlong reached out and grabbed the tip of the short sword.
The short sword gleamed, a precious blade capable of cutting through gold and jade.
In Hua Yunlong's hand, it felt as if it were nothing.
The girl had already leaped into the air, but she couldn't bear to discard her weapon, so she used her inner energy to sink down and land on the ground.
Hua Yunlong loosened his grip and smiled, "May I ask your name, young lady?"
The girl in black was both surprised and anxious, saying, "I have already stated that I have nothing to do with the Sima family's murder case, why do you ask so many questions?" Hua
Yunlong smiled broadly and said, "I love interacting with girls more than anything in my life. If you don't explain yourself clearly, then don't even think about leaving."
The girl in black was slightly taken aback and said, "Hmph! A scion of a prestigious family, yet you're such a frivolous fellow." Hua
Yunlong laughed loudly and said, "My elder brother is the one from a prestigious family, and my younger brother Hua Wei is also a pure and honest young man. As for me, hehe..."
The girl in black said coldly, "And what about you?"
Hua Yunlong said seriously, "My behavior is eccentric and unpredictable, and I don't care about the world's slander. Young lady! You've met the second master of the Hua family, you're doomed."
The girl in black was stunned upon hearing this, thinking to herself: This Hua fellow is cunning and strange, but his martial arts are unfathomable. I can't beat him, and I can't escape. What should I do?
She pondered in her heart, but couldn't find a way to escape.
Suddenly, a strange feeling welled up inside her, and she couldn't help but blush, lowering her head in embarrassment.
It turned out that Hua Yunlong was as handsome as Pan An, an unparalleled beauty. The girl in black, only sixteen years old, had rarely interacted with men, but her heart had already awakened to love. Now, suddenly realizing the other was a handsome young man, she became extremely flustered, her heart pounding wildly, inexplicably shy.
Seeing this, Hua Yunlong smiled, suddenly taking out a gilded folding fan from his robes, opening it with a "whoosh," and shaking it twice, asking, "May I ask your name, young lady?"
The girl in black raised her beautiful eyes, glancing at Hua Yunlong like lightning, and said softly, "We are strangers, why bother with names?"
Hua Yunlong chuckled, saying, "If you don't wish to reveal your name, I won't force you."
He suddenly closed his folding fan, waved his hand in a gesture of invitation, and said, "Let's speak in the mourning hall."
The girl in black was slightly taken aback and said, "That coffin contains a deadly poison. You are not afraid, young master, but I cannot bear it."
Her tone softened.
Hua Yunlong asked, "How do you know there is a deadly poison in the coffin?"
The girl in black replied, "I have been here many times. I can see the layout very clearly from the shadows."
Hua Yunlong asked, "What brings you here, young lady?"
A look of sorrow flashed across the girl's face as she said, "I have my own reasons. In short, it has nothing to do with the Sima family's murder case."
Hua Yunlong pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, I will close the coffin lid. Come with me."
There were no leads to be found in Sima Changqing's murder case. He was not about to let this girl in black go so easily. Before he finished speaking, he led the way into the hall.
The hall was pitch black. Hua Yunlong lit a tinderbox, lifted the coffin lid, and closed it again. He said loudly, "Miss, you may come in now."
The girl in black stood outside the hall. Seeing him talking and laughing so calmly, seemingly unafraid of the poisonous gas emanating from the coffin, she was greatly surprised. She took a step, intending to enter the hall, but suddenly her heart trembled, and she abruptly turned and ran away.
Hua Yunlong laughed loudly, "I told you you couldn't escape, why did you insist on running away?"
The girl in black lightly leaped onto the wall, suddenly feeling a tightness around her waist as Hua Yunlong embraced her.
Hua Yunlong laughed heartily and said, "It's not that I'm trying to take advantage, it's just that you're too disobedient, young lady."
The girl in black blushed, overwhelmed with shame, but suddenly her face darkened, and she said coldly, "Young Master Hua, my martial arts are weak, but I am not a person of improper conduct or lack of self-respect."
Hua Yunlong laughed loudly, released his grip, raised his hand to his forehead, and said solemnly, "Please calm your anger, young lady. I was confused for a moment, and I apologize."
He indeed bowed deeply to the ground, leaving the girl in black both amused and exasperated. After a moment, she said coldly, "I dare not accept such praise. If you have no further instructions, young master, I will take my leave."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself: This woman's origins are clearly illegitimate, yet she pretends to be so proper. There must be some cunning behind this.
He quickly changed his mind and said, "Master Sima suffered a tragic fate. I was ordered by my father to apprehend the murderer, and I was fortunate enough to encounter this clue, young lady. How could I let it go so easily?"
The girl in black sneered and said, "So, you suspect that I am an accomplice of the murderer?"
Hua Yunlong smiled and said, "I only ask for your guidance, young lady. How dare I make veiled accusations or slander an innocent person?"
He kept switching between calling the girl in black a "clue" and a good person, but in reality, he had only one intention: to obtain some clues from her.
The girl in black naturally understood this, so her jade-like face turned frosty as she stared intently at Hua Yunlong, her expression extremely angry.
The girl's anger, however, possessed a captivating charm.
Although Hua Yunlong had no such thoughts, he smiled broadly, thoroughly enjoying the sight.
Seeing that he was neither angry nor upset, but only smiling adoringly, the girl in black was helpless against him.
She thought for a moment, then her expression suddenly turned serious. "Young Master Hua," she said solemnly, "are you truly determined to apprehend the murderer of Master Sima?"
Hua Yunlong clasped his hands in a fist salute and replied, "I am acting on orders from my strict father. If I cannot capture the murderer and clear up the case, I cannot return home to report."
The girl in black smiled coldly and said, "Very well! I will lend you a hand."
With that, she turned and ran out of the hall.
Hua Yunlong was filled with suspicion, but he knew that even if this girl in black was not a member of the murderer's gang, she must know the inside story. He immediately strode off and followed her.
The two left the city and ran for about half an hour, arriving at a desolate wilderness overgrown with weeds.
Suddenly, a solitary thatched hut appeared amidst the weeds.
The hut stood alone, hidden in the overgrown vegetation, with no path leading to it, creating a desolate scene shrouded in an eerie atmosphere.
A young woman in black went straight to the thatched hut, knocked on the door, and said, "Mrs. Xue, open the door."
Inside, a lamp flickered, and a hoarse voice asked, "Is that you, Miss?" The
young woman in black coldly replied, "Of course it's me."
There was a moment of silence in the hut, then the hoarse voice asked again, "Who is the other person?"
The young woman in black angrily said, "I told you to open the door, why ask so many questions?"
Hua Yunlong had already recognized that the person speaking inside was already standing behind the door, but the wooden door remained tightly closed and wouldn't open.
The young woman in black seemed furious, and coldly shouted, "Are you courting death?" She
raised her jade-like hand and slammed it open with force.
With a "yikes," the wooden door opened.
The lamplight flickered, revealing a thatched hut with alternating light and shadow. In front of the door was a simple cottage with only a worn wooden stool and two bamboo chairs.
The thatched cottage was deserted. The girl in black stormed into the dark room, saying, "Xue Niang, you..."
Hua Yunlong interrupted, "Miss, you don't need to look anymore, Xue Niang is here."
A cold snort rang out, "That's right! This old woman is here. Your eyes and ears are quite sharp." As soon as
the voice faded, a figure appeared from behind the door, blocking Hua Yunlong's view into the dark room.
Hua Yunlong stared intently, but when his gaze fell upon Xue Niang's face, he felt a shiver run through him. A chill rose from the soles of his feet to his chest, and he shuddered.
----------------------------
Green Plum Blossom Input, Exclusive Serial

Chapter Two: Losing One's Life is Still Romantic

It wasn't that Hua Yunlong recognized Xue Niang, but rather that Xue Niang was only in her early forties, with a full head of black hair and jade-like skin, neat and smooth. However, her face was covered with scars. More than ten bright red, deep-seated wounds covered her cheeks, crisscrossing and tearing the flesh, making her look extremely terrifying.
At this moment, Xue Niang stood before Hua Yunlong, her eyes filled with suspicion.
The girl in black turned back to the thatched cottage upon hearing this, and sternly rebuked, "Xue Niang, are you really courting death? Get out of here and serve tea!"
Xue Niang didn't turn back, staring blankly at Hua Yunlong for a while before finally moving towards the kitchen.
Hua Yunlong's composure eased slightly. He secretly observed Xue Niang's gait, noticing that she landed on both feet, no different from an ordinary person, and didn't seem to be using any light-footed techniques. She simply landed silently, as if her body had no weight.
Although Hua Yunlong was bold, he was now somewhat apprehensive, secretly breaking out in a cold sweat.
The girl in black waved her hand and coldly said, "Young Master Hua, please sit."
Hua Yunlong's composure returned, and he chuckled, "Please sit, and you sit too, Miss."
The two sat down on two bamboo chairs, and the girl in black solemnly asked, "Young Master Hua, are you aware of the matter of the gang, the association, and the sect?"
Hua Yunlong frowned slightly and said, "That was ten years ago."
The girl in black coldly said, "I've heard that in the past there were three factions: the 'Divine Flag Gang,' the 'Wind and Cloud Society,' and the 'Tongtian Sect,' each dominating their own territory. Young Master, coming from a martial arts family, you should be very familiar with these historical events, right?"
Hua Yunlong smiled slightly and said, "The 'Wind and Cloud Society' and the 'Tongtian Sect' have long been destroyed, and the 'Divine Flag Gang' has also disbanded. Why do you suddenly ask about events from twenty years ago?"
The girl in black answered irrelevantly, saying, "After that, there was a 'Nine Yin Sect,' do you know about it, Young Master?"
Hua Yunlong said, "I've also heard of it. I've heard that the 'Nine Yin Sect' suffered repeated defeats and has also vanished like smoke."
The girl in black coldly said, "In recent years..." "A new sect called 'Xuanming Sect' has risen in the martial world. Have you heard of it, young master?"
Hua Yunlong was startled and said, "What 'Xuanming Sect'? I've never heard of it."
The girl in black said calmly, "I only recently heard about it myself."
Hua Yunlong clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "I would like to hear more about it."
The girl in black said, "That day, I inadvertently discovered a group of suspicious people. Out of curiosity, I followed them..."
Hua Yunlong was listening intently to her narration when suddenly, a sense of unease arose in his heart. He turned around and was shocked to see Xue Niang, her face covered in wounds, holding a wooden tray with two cups of tea on it. She had somehow appeared behind him.
When Xue Niang saw him turn around, she immediately stepped forward and placed the two cups of tea on the table.
Hua Yunlong felt a surge of anger. He raised his right hand, intending to grab Xue Niang's wrist, but then thought better of it. It would be beneath his dignity to act first, so he changed his mind and remained seated.
The girl in black glanced coldly at Xue Niang and waved her hand, saying, "Step back!"
A muscle twitched on Xue Niang's terrifying face, and she suddenly said, "Young Master Hua, please have some tea."
The girl in black said angrily, "You're so long-winded! I told you to step back."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself: This thatched hut is filled with ghostly energy. If I don't use some drastic measures, they won't submit.
With this thought, he suddenly laughed loudly, picked up his teacup, and said, "Please continue, Miss. I'm all ears." He raised the cup to his lips and took a sip of hot tea.
The oil lamp was right beside him. As he raised his teacup and flicked his sleeve, the lamp's light flickered, almost going out.
Just as the oil lamp flickered and then brightened again, Hua Yunlong flicked his right little finger, and a tiny pill, no bigger than a millet seed, was dropped into the other cup of tea. Neither Xue Niang nor the girl in black noticed.
This all happened in the blink of an eye.
The girl in black glanced at the teacup in her hand and continued, "I secretly followed those people and saw them sneak into the mansion of Master Sima, open the coffin lid, sprinkle a white powder inside, and then put the lid back on, looking smug and ready to capture the enemy."
Hua Yunlong had already tested it and found that there was indeed a sleeping potion in the tea. He remained calm, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and smiled, "Was that woman who claimed to be surnamed You a subordinate of the 'Xuanming Sect'?"
The girl in black nodded and said, "I heard that from them too."
Hua Yunlong smiled slightly and asked, "Is that You woman the sect leader?"
He picked up the teacup and took another sip with relish.
The girl in black said coldly, "That Lady You is just the lowest of the low. There are more than ten of them in total. Even the leader is just a small fry."
Hua Yunlong pretended to be surprised and said, "Oh! Miss, have you seen the leader? Is the leader a man or a woman? How old is he?"
He tilted his head back and drank the cup of tea in one gulp.
The girl in black said, "I've investigated several times, but I haven't seen the leader. However, I've heard that his surname is Qiu, and they call him Young Master."
Hua Yunlong said, "Since he's called Young Master, he must be quite young?"
The girl in black said, "Judging from their conversation, Young Master Qiu is not only their leader but also the mastermind behind the murder of Sima Changqing. He's currently in Nanyang and hasn't left."
Hua Yunlong suddenly laughed and said, "Interesting! Interesting! Hua the Second versus Young Master Qiu!"
"That Young Master Qiu is merely a minor leader of the 'Xuanming Sect,' not its leader."
The girl in black smiled coldly, her mouth moving as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
Xue Niang, who had been standing behind Hua Yunlong, hadn't left as ordered. At this moment, she slowly raised her hands, her fingers spread wide, as if about to pounce.
Unexpectedly, Hua Yunlong suddenly turned around and called out, "Xue Niang!"
Xue Niang was startled, shrinking back and taking a step back. The girl in black also felt a chill.
Hua Yunlong laughed loudly, picked up his teacup, and said, "I'm very thirsty, could you please have another cup?"
Xue Niang hesitated slightly, took the teacup, and quickly retreated.
Hua Yunlong suddenly called out again, "Xue Niang!"
Xue Niang's body trembled, and she turned around and stood still.
Hua Yunlong said, "Your tea leaves are very good, put in a little more."
Xue Niang's monstrous face twitched slightly, she nodded, and hurriedly ran towards the kitchen.
It turned out that Xue Niang had already added a drug to the tea. The drug was extremely potent; even a person with exceptional martial arts skills would collapse on the spot and lose consciousness after drinking that cup of tea. Unexpectedly, the drugged tea went straight into Hua Yunlong's stomach, like a stone sinking into the sea, without any effect. Moreover, one cup wasn't enough; he actually asked for another, saying the tea leaves were good and requesting more.
The girl in black was secretly worried and anxious, thinking: This Hua Yunlong is cunning and treacherous; even the drug couldn't defeat him. It seems I have no choice but to fight to the death!
As she was pondering this, Xue Niang quickly came out with a cup of hot tea, lowered her eyes, and silently placed it in front of Hua Yunlong.
Hua Yunlong, seemingly parched, hastily picked up the cup, took a sip, and laughed, "Judging from your tone, Miss, the 'Xuanming Sect' seems to be a tightly organized gang with many members and extremely vicious methods?"
The girl in black coldly replied, "I suppose so."
Hua Yunlong laughed, "Then, won't the martial world, which has been peaceful for twenty years, be thrown into turmoil again?"
He seemed deeply moved, picked up the cup, and took another sip.
Seeing him frequently raising his cup, seemingly oblivious to the medicine in the tea, the girl in black was greatly annoyed.
Feeling troubled, she picked up her own cup of tea, brought it to her lips, and said coldly, "I believe a great upheaval is brewing in the martial world, and Sima Changqing is the first to bear the brunt, merely a scapegoat."
Hua Yunlong feigned surprise and asked, "Why?"
The girl in black smiled coldly and said, "Your father is a powerful figure in the martial world, his prestige as high as the sun at its zenith, but he has enemies all over the world..."
She seemed unwilling to elaborate, and before she could finish speaking, she suddenly stopped, raised the cup to her lips, and was about to take a sip of tea.
Hua Yunlong, who had been subtly teasing her to drink the tea and wanting to see her self-destruct, couldn't help but chuckle as she was about to drink it, quickly turning his face away.
The girl in black was slightly startled and said reproachfully, "What are you laughing at?"
Hua Yunlong pursed his lips, suppressing his laughter, and said, "This cup of tea isn't very clean, you don't have to drink it, miss!"
These words contained both sarcasm and implication, a double entendre. The girl in black knew that Xue Niang had put drugs in the tea, but she was unaware that Hua Yunlong had also tampered with it. She couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, opening her mouth to drink again.
Hua Yunlong couldn't help but chuckle again, but he was, after all, a member of the Hua family, steeped in righteousness and morality. The uprightness of the Hua family was ingrained in his blood; his benevolent nature and sense of right and wrong were unshakeable.
At that moment, a flash of inspiration struck him. He thought to himself: She's just a woman; I can hit her or kill her if I want. Why bother toying with her?
With that thought, he didn't hesitate any longer. He stretched out his arm, and the girl in black only felt a blur before her eyes. The teacup in her hand was suddenly in his, without even a drop of tea spilling.
Hua Yunlong smiled calmly, put down his teacup, and said solemnly, "Miss, you are no match for me. Let's be frank about what happened today. If you reveal your name and it is indeed unrelated to the bloodshed, I will take my leave immediately. Otherwise, if we meet with weapons, I will not hold back. You don't need to drink this tea."
The girl in black was stunned upon hearing this, knowing that there must be something fishy about that cup of tea. For a moment, she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. She admired Hua Yunlong's skills and wit, and knew that it would be extremely difficult for her and his servant to harm him. She felt a sense of sadness and anger, but she also felt that Hua Yunlong, despite his cunning, had a righteous side, and she felt a sense of admiration and longing. Therefore, she stood there blankly, at a loss for what to do. Suddenly,
she heard Xue Niang shout angrily, "What kind of chivalrous person is it to bully others with your skills?"
She strode to the table, picked up the teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.
Hua Yunlong sneered, saying, "You brought this on yourself, so you can't blame anyone else."
Xue Niang laughed wildly, suddenly smashing her teacup, her ten fingers outstretched, and lunged forward.
Her face was ferocious, already terrifying to behold, but now, as she channeled her inner energy, her joints cracked and popped, her once fair and smooth hands suddenly turning as black as ink, her ten fingers growing an inch longer, her menacing appearance truly chilling.
Hua Yunlong was enraged, his figure flashing, he drifted back two feet, coldly saying, "Such vicious martial arts, you're definitely not a kind person, I won't spare you."
He swung his right palm, calmly counterattacking.
The sound of sword wind rang out, the black-clad girl said nothing, her short sword flashing like lightning, suddenly thrusting forward.
This sword strike was incredibly fast, forcing Hua Yunlong to leap back three feet.
Xue Niang's laughter continued, her hoarse laughter like the howling of ghosts and wolves, extremely piercing.
Within this desolate thatched hut, a single lamp flickered, casting a melancholic glow. The sounds, especially those from within, were chilling and terrifying.
Hua Yunlong's brows furrowed. His right hand touched the hilt of his sword, intending to draw it, but his pride led him to believe that dealing with two women was hardly worth using his sword.
In that brief moment of hesitation, the girl in black flashed her short sword and thrust it forward again; Xue Niang arched
her back, let out a sharp cry, and pounced as well. The two, mistress and servant, fought with incredibly precise coordination, especially Xue Niang, who fought with reckless ferocity.
Hua Yunlong's anger surged. He reached out with his left hand, snatching the short sword from the girl in black, and swung his right palm straight at Xue Niang's forehead.
This palm strike was as swift as lightning, arriving almost before striking Xue Niang's forehead.
Xue Niang's eyes widened, blazing with a fierce light like two torches. When Hua Yunlong struck with his palm, she neither parried nor blocked, but merely tilted her head slightly to avoid a fatal blow. Instead, she lunged forward, her arms clasped together, and she lunged at him.
Hua Yunlong was both shocked and enraged. In his haste, he ducked and dodged with lightning speed.
Xue Niang missed her target, but quickly turned and pressed forward like a shadow. Simultaneously, the girl in black slashed her sword at Hua Yunlong's right side.
These three exchanges were fierce and brutal, yet they happened in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, Xue Niang screamed, clutching her stomach, and staggered towards Hua Yunlong.
Hua Yunlong sidestepped, his left leg suddenly lifting, kicking Xue Niang to the ground. His right hand moved like a halberd, aiming for the girl in black's wrist.
The girl in black swung her short sword, quickly retreating a step, dodging the finger strike.
All that could be heard was Xue Niang's incessant wailing, clutching her stomach and rolling on the ground.
It turned out that Xue Niang had added poison to her tea, and Hua Yunlong had also added poison to his tea. However, while Hua Yunlong was unharmed, Xue Niang suffered excruciating abdominal pain, as if her intestines were being torn apart, and a thousand arrows were piercing her heart.
Although Hua Yunlong was cunning and eccentric, this was the first time he had punished someone in this way.
Seeing Xue Niang's agonizing writhing state, he felt uneasy. He leaped forward, pointing a finger at her, intending to first seal her pressure points before questioning her.
But then Xue Niang screamed, "Miss, fight with your life! Kill this brat, and your master's life will be saved!"
With a scream, she rolled on the ground, reaching out to grab Hua Yunlong's legs.
Hua Yunlong's hair stood on end, and he roared, "What does my life or death have to do with your master's life?"
He kicked Xue Niang several feet away, her body crashing towards the kitchen.
The girl in black lunged forward, suddenly unleashing a powerful sword strike.
Enraged, Hua Yunlong snatched the sword with his left hand and pointed with his right, shouting, "Speak clearly! What is your name?
Whose daughter are you? What is your grievance? Why are you determined to take my life?" His hands moved swiftly, relentlessly pressing forward.
The girl in black, tears welling in her eyes, frantically swung her short sword, retreating step by step, but remained silent, her teeth clenched.
Suddenly, a thick cloud of smoke billowed into the thatched hut, and a flame flickered above the stove.
Hua Yunlong's martial arts skills were more than enough to deal with the girl in black, but a lecherous nature seemed to lurk within him, making him unconsciously hesitant to fight young and beautiful women.
He was only focused on disarming her without harming her, and in his haste, this became impossible.
In the blink of an eye, flames engulfed the thatched hut.
Suddenly, Xue Niang, disheveled and screaming, rushed out from under the kitchen, brandishing two burning torches.
Hua Yunlong, startled and panicked, swiftly struck the black-clad girl's shoulder with lightning speed, then with a flick of his left hand, snatched the short sword from her grasp.
Xue Niang roared, brandishing the torches and hurling them at Hua Yunlong's face.
Hua Yunlong swung his short sword, retaliating with a "whoosh."
The black-clad girl, her pressure points sealed by Hua Yunlong, was paralyzed, her arms hanging limply, but her legs still moved. Suddenly, she lunged forward, meeting the short sword head-on.
Hua Yunlong was startled. The thatched hut was filled with thick smoke and the firelight blinded him. Xue Niang, acting like a madwoman, disregarded life and death. Hua Yunlong had only worried about the girl's escape, not her suicidal intent. In a moment of panic, he twisted his waist, dodging the torches and moving the short sword aside.
The girl in black stepped forward to meet the sword, her movements fierce and swift. Although Hua Yunlong quickly moved his short sword, the girl's shoulder was still cut open, blood gushing out, her injury quite serious.
The thatched house burned extremely quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the fire raged, becoming a raging inferno.
Hua Yunlong thought to himself: These two, master and servant, are fearless and will be difficult to deal with.
He had a vague feeling that even if these two weren't subordinates of the "Xuanming Sect," they must be people with tragic pasts and miserable experiences. Seeing that the fire was already raging, he hurriedly grabbed the girl in black and rushed outside.
Xue Niang continued to laugh fiercely, waving her torch wildly, blocking their path.
Hua Yunlong shouted angrily, "You reckless madman!"
His short sword flashed, like a snake spitting its tongue, and suddenly he thrust it forward.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/36806.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=36806&aspx=1

Previous Page : The Demon Emperor of Lust, Chapter 12 Author: Yuan Yang Jiu Feng

Next Page : The Legend of Lu Xueqi: The Way of the Lustful Woman

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

Great Hero

comment Open a new window to view comments