Free Web NovelChapter 243: Chapter 141: Making an Appearance (Part 2)
He had thought he might find a breakthrough from his own end, but the information he had gathered so far was not enough to prove anything. Besides, even if he could prove Ye Feihua wasn’t the murderer, no one would listen.
Now, hearing what Chen Qi said, he finally gave the Flower-Picking Conference some careful thought.
He was suddenly taken aback.
"Wait, something about this really does seem off..."
"Let’s pick up the pace."
Fang Shuwen chuckled.
"We should know the whole story soon enough."
The distance of over a hundred li was neither far nor near. For an expert in Lightweight Technique, it would take less than the time to drink a cup of tea; for the slow, it would take two to four hours.
Fang Shuwen’s party traveled at a moderate pace, arriving in about an hour.
There weren’t too many people gathered yet. After all, masters of the Lightweight Technique were a rare sight. Fang Shuwen didn’t try to blend into the crowd, instead finding a corner to stand in and wait quietly.
Fang Lingxin and Shui Qianrou watched the crowd of Jianghu people with great curiosity. Unfortunately, with Fang Shuwen’s level of experience, he could hardly tell them about each person there.
Chen Qi, however, saw their expressions and began to introduce the various figures to them.
Listening from the side, Fang Shuwen felt this guy’s familiarity with the Jianghu was seemingly on par with Chen Yan’s.
’Are all these people with the surname Chen some kind of Jianghu information brokers?’
Fang Shuwen, on the other hand, was a bit curious about the relationship between Wu Hui and Leng Yanqiu.
’A monk who’s returned to secular life and a rather attractive woman—how did the two of them end up together?’
But upon asking, he discovered that Wu Hui and Leng Yanqiu were actually siblings.
It was just that Wu Hui had gotten lost as a child and, after a series of twists and turns, ended up at the Nianhua Zen Temple.
It wasn’t until he had grown up and began to wander the Jianghu that he happened to reunite with Leng Yanqiu. After a series of fateful coincidences, she discovered that this monk was, in fact, her long-lost younger brother.
And so, the siblings were reunited.
Furthermore, Wu Hui’s decision to leave monastic life was also related to Leng Yanqiu.
But when asked about it, Wu Hui just hemmed and hawed, failing to give a clear explanation.
This story, of course, piqued Fang Lingxin’s interest. She pulled Leng Yanqiu aside and asked how they had recognized one another.
Leng Yanqiu could only tell her that Wu Hui had a very distinctive birthmark.
Later, they were caught in an ambush. Wu Hui was injured, and it was only when she was bandaging his wounds that she saw the birthmark and recognized him.
Fang Lingxin was a little disappointed after hearing the story.
She had never heard Fang Mingxuan mention that their brother had any birthmarks.
As for Fang Shuwen himself... well, he didn’t have any that he could see. And if he couldn’t see them, it was even less likely anyone else could.
Amidst the idle chatter, time slowly passed. Fang Shuwen had a good vantage point and saw quite a few familiar faces.
There was Gu Yuxian, whom he’d met previously, and also the Killing Ascetic he’d seen recently.
Fang Shuwen even spotted Lin Fan. ’That kid really didn’t listen to a word I said. He came to meddle in these muddy waters after all.’
Besides these individuals, Fang Shuwen also made a point of looking for members of the Seven Eastern Sects.
But after scanning the crowd, he couldn’t find them.
’They must have altered their appearances,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, the mere sight of Yu Yaoguang would have caused an uproar.’
’It can’t be helped. Regardless of her personality, that woman is beautiful enough to topple nations.’
Fang Shuwen also specifically scanned the crowd for any vixen-like women, or for monks whose eyes seemed to get stuck on any woman they saw.
But he found none of them either.
’I don’t know if they didn’t come at all, or if they’re just that good at hiding.’
Dong Wangyou, who had been standing before the valley entrance blocking everyone’s path, suddenly leaped to a high vantage point. He glanced at the assembled crowd, seemed to decide enough people had arrived, and spoke in a booming voice:
"Everyone, lend me your ears!"
Everyone had come at his behest, so upon hearing him, they quieted their noisy chatter and waited for him to speak.
"I imagine you have all guessed by now. The valley behind me is the location of Jinghua Pavilion."
"Now that our people have arrived, there is no need to wait any longer. Follow me, and we shall uncover the truth!!"
As soon as he said this, some people cheered loudly, while others wore strange expressions.
It wasn’t just Fang Shuwen who had noticed something was amiss with Dong Wangyou’s mysterious affair. Those who were truly after the Seven-String Ancient Chapter had naturally sensed problems as well.
But Dong Wangyou was the Wine Immortal. He had more than enough prestige and wouldn’t stake his own reputation on a joke.
That was why they forcibly suppressed their unease and waited to see what would happen.
Now that he had spoken, they had to go in and investigate for themselves, regardless of whether it was real or a ruse.
Dong Wuyou was still the one to lead the way into the valley. Behind him, a crowd of Jianghu people followed. Some were rubbing their hands in anticipation, quickening their pace so Dong Wuyou wouldn’t get a head start.
But others were in no rush, keeping a careful watch on their surroundings for fear of any mishaps.
Fang Shuwen quietly entered the valley with his small group, but just before he stepped inside, he suddenly asked Chen Qi:
"Where are your men?"
Chen Qi seemed completely unsurprised by Fang Shuwen’s question. He simply smiled and said:
"They’re among the crowd as well."
His frankness left Fang Shuwen rather impressed.
"I thought you’d be avoiding me."
"I thought you’d attack me on sight." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"No, you didn’t think that at all," Fang Shuwen said flatly.
"You’ve already taken plenty of precautions, both with Qian Gong and with the matter of Yuqing Pavilion."
"And even..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Leng Yanqiu.
Although Leng Yanqiu couldn’t understand what he and Chen Qi were discussing, she sensed the strange atmosphere and grew wary.
Chen Qi sighed softly.
"After all, I’m the one who needs your help. I can’t afford to make you truly despise me."
