75: Chess comes first, drinking comes second, and swordsmanship comes third!

There were no obstacles, no traps, just dead silence, not a single human sound.

Further ahead, on the gate tower of Netherworld Manor, hung a corpse, already decayed.

There was no intact flesh on his entire body; it was evident he had died a tragic death.

But the tattered crimson cape, the bare, hairy legs, and the neatly kept beard amidst the decay, all indicated his identity.

Four Eyebrows Lu Xiaofeng.

Ximen Chuixue inspected it, noting sword marks, scars, even bite marks from a woman. Most matched, a few were impossible to find due to decomposition, then he shook his head.

Lu Jiuyuan went up, lifted the cape, inspected it, then poked at some worms with a stick, and nodded.

“It’s fake, although a very meticulous fake. The sword marks and scars match, and I can’t tell where it’s fake,

but my intuition tells me he must be fake. Lu Xiaofeng wouldn’t die so easily!” Ximen Chuixue said.

“It is indeed fake!” Lu Jiuyuan also nodded. “I once used my sword to cut off two of his hairs, and there’s no trace of that now, so it must be fake!”

Ximen Chuixue frowned. “I’m serious!”

“I’m serious too!” Lu Jiuyuan said with a solemn expression.

“The Master of Youling Villa has returned.

And he doesn’t want to provoke the two of us, so he left a fake behind and quietly evacuated with the real Lu Xiaofeng.”

“Lu Xiaofeng is very useful to him, so useful that he’s willing to risk being discovered by us to take him away.”

“Let’s search around and see if there are any clues.”

Lu Jiuyuan and Ximen Chuixue walked side by side.

“They left very cleanly,” Ximen Chuixue said. “It was premeditated, an early evacuation.”

The two wandered around Netherworld Manor for a while, finding no trace of anyone. Many clues were left behind, but none were very useful.

It was clear that the villa originally housed about sixty or seventy people.

They left silently, many things remaining untouched.

“There were men and women, fat and thin, tall and short. From the remaining traces, there were quite a few Masters. What a pity…” Ximen Chuixue sighed slightly.

If such Masters could fight freely, how exhilarating that would be!

“You don’t need to search anymore. They left in a hurry three days ago and have no idea where they’ve gone now.” A hoarse, unpleasant voice sounded.

“So one was left behind!” Ximen Chuixue said indifferently.

“How should I address you?”

“One of the founders of Netherworld Manor, Wudang’s Ye Lingfeng.”

A person dirtier than a beggar tenfold, as if living in mud, emerged from a corner.

All exposed areas were scars and grime, disheveled, covered in mud.

His face was unclear, his body unclear, like a wild man.

“Wudang’s Jade Tree Swordsman Ye Lingfeng!” Ximen Chuixue looked at this person.

“The handsome and uninhibited Ye Lingfeng of twenty years ago has actually become like this.

Everyone said you were dead, but it seems that’s not the case.”

“Everyone else left, but you remained. Perhaps twenty years ago you were a founder of Youling Villa, but now, you are certainly no longer one of the people of Netherworld Manor.”

Lu Jiuyuan’s figure appeared not far behind him, blocking his path, holding his sword.

“Indeed, I am no longer one of the people of Netherworld Manor. The reason I am willing to show myself is to see who could have startled Old Handle of the Saber away.

Who could make him abandon his foundation here before his great undertaking was complete.” Ye Lingfeng said.

“Great undertaking not complete? What great undertaking, I wonder?” Lu Jiuyuan asked.

“That’s not important! What’s important is that he was actually scared away by the two of you.” Ye Lingfeng cupped his fists.

“This old man was pushed off a cliff by him over ten years ago, rolling in the mud every day.

I don’t know how the outside world has changed.

May I ask, who are you two?”

“Sword Saint, Lu Jiuyuan!”

“Sword God, Ximen Chuixue!”

“Sword Saint, Sword God! Hahahahaha, what a Sword Saint, what a Sword God! To be able to make him retreat three steps.

What do you want to know? I will tell you everything.

Just, one request.”

“What request?”

“Kill Old Handle of the Saber!”

“I will do it without you asking.”

“Good, ask away!”

“Who is Old Handle of the Saber?” Ximen Chuixue asked.

“My Master, Wudang’s Daoist Mu.”

“It’s him? Why?”

“For the position of Wudang Sect Head.”

“I remember the position of Wudang Sect Head was given by Daoist Mu to Daoist Mei.”

“He didn’t want to give it up; he had no choice but to.”

“He had an affair with my cousin Shen Sanniang, and when it was discovered, he had no choice but to give up the Sect Head position.

He craved that position madly.”

“I remember Shen Sanniang is your wife!” Ximen Chuixue’s eyes narrowed, radiating a cold light.

“Indeed, Shen Sanniang is my wife, but this is merely a facade.

Daoist Mu, in order to be with Shen Sanniang, had her marry me, using me as a cover, and even had a daughter with Shen Sanniang.

I, his disciple, was merely a disguise.” Ye Lingfeng said.

“Something must have happened later, otherwise he wouldn’t have killed you.” Lu Jiuyuan said.

“Indeed, as the saying goes, love grows over time. This Ye was also a handsome young man renowned in the Jianghu back then.

As husband and wife with Shen Sanniang, facing each other daily, how could there be no feelings?

Daoist Mu enjoyed traveling the world, but he didn’t expect that upon his return, I had helped him gain another daughter.

It was because of this that the Master-disciple bond was severed, and he ruthlessly pushed me off the cliff. However, I was lucky not to die.

The mud pit at the bottom of the cliff also had a miraculous healing effect.

That’s how I barely survived, but alas for Sanniang, who was cruelly murdered by him.”

“Do you know? Where did they go after leaving here, where did they hide?”

“I don’t know, but I know that on April 13th, they will definitely appear at Wudang, and Daoist Mu will definitely get what he desires.

He is a very terrifying person, meticulous in thought, and highly skilled in martial arts.”

“Who are the Masters?” Ximen Chuixue didn’t care about his schemes, he only cared about what Masters there were.

“The Soul Reaper is Shi He, his swift swordplay is second only to Daoist Mu, who calls him not inferior to Lord of Baiyun City Ye Gucheng.

The four brothers, the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, and Elephant, renegade Shaolin disciples, can collectively contend with the world’s top experts.

Gou Zi, Cousin, Guan Jia Po, and some other desperadoes, their strength is much weaker, not worth mentioning.”

“Gou Hun, I want him!” Ximen Chuixue said directly to Lu Jiuyuan. “You can’t steal him!”

“Alright! I want Daoist Mu! As for the other weaklings, whoever encounters them kills them.” Lu Jiuyuan also said.

“Daoist Mu, whoever gets him kills him.” Ximen Chuixue glared, he was also very interested in Daoist Mu, who was stronger than Gou Hun Shi He.

“Daoist Mu prides himself on being first in chess, second in drinking, and third in swordsmanship in the world.

But he claims no one in the world is worthy of being called first, nor second.” Ye Lingfeng said. “To deal with him, no one has the right to be careless.”

“The world’s third without a first or second! How exciting!” Ximen Chuixue slowly closed his eyes, his tone filled with anticipation.

“Youling Villa and Daoist Mu end here. I still have one more thing to ask.” Lu Jiuyuan suddenly said.